Fried 'Balls

Another one of my friend's relationships bit the dust.

Alas, I am on my way over to her pad tonight to console her with my groovy tomato sauce and turkey 'balls (see previous post).

I picked up the best trick for frying 'balls from my friend, Dina's, mother. Usually, I'd bake the 'balls but Dina said her mother fries them in a nonstick pan with olive oil and an onion (cut in half and peeled). The trick is to turn the onion as you turn the 'balls so nothing burns. The onion flavors the 'balls so nicely that this is my new way of cooking them!

Since this is not the healthiest way to cook 'balls - what the heck - I went gangbusters and fattened up the 'balls themselves. Instead of adding water, I added milk instead. Liquids make the 'balls soft and, ladies, there's nothing worse than hard 'balls (I know, counter intuitive).

Here's my recipe:

Gangbuster Groovy 'Balls

1 package turkey meat (93% lean)
1 cup Progresso flavored breadcrumbs
1 cup grated cheese (I use a freshly grated combination of parmagiano reggiano and locatelli romano)
1 egg
salt
pepper
finely chopped parsley, optional
1 cup whole (yes, whole) milk

Mix all ingredients very well together. Form into 'balls and fry in a nonstick pan with a coating of olive oil and an onion which has been peeled and sliced in half.

Enjoy!

Meatballs

Not to brag, but I make the best turkey meatballs on the planet. Whenever one of my friends is infirmed or got dumped, I show up with a cauldron of turkey meatballs and spaghetti sauce.

Here's the recipie:

1 package ground turkey (93% lean)
1 cup Italian-flavored breadcrumbs
1 cup grated cheese (IMPORTANT! It must be very good cheese - this makes all the difference. I use a combination of grated parmaggiano-reggiano and romano cheese that I get freshly grated at the Italian market. You can store it, in a bag, in the freezer and use as needed)
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
Parsley (optional)
1/2 - 3/4 cup water (This is the secret! Don't you just hate hard meatballs?)

Mix all ingredients together very well. Heck, let the kids help (I do!) - just no bowl licking. Form into meatballs and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Add to cooked spaghetti sauce.

Variation: You can make turkey meatloaf - just put the mixture in a loaf pan (spray it with Pam) and bake at 350 degrees for an hour.