(Better for You) Meatballs

As part of my Frugal Homemaking series, I wanted to add a few new recipes that I've tried my hand at recently.  The first is my meatballs.  Basically, I took a few recipes, and tweeked them to work for me, my family, and the ingredients in my kitchen.  :o)

The great thing about cooking, to me, is that you can modify any recipe to fit your needs and preferences.  I'd love to hear y'alls variations on any of my recipes.  

(Better for You) Meatballs

Ingredients

- 1/3 cup Panko bread crumbs

- 1/2 cup milk

- 1 onion, finely chopped

-  4 cloves garlic, crushed/finely chopped

- ~1 tbsp olive oil (enough to saute onion)

- 2 eggs (I use Egg Beaters, or it's store brand equivalent)

- 1/4 - 1/2 cup finely chopped spinach

- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs

- 2 tbsp Parmesan (um, I always over-measure the cheese... hee hee) 

- 1 tsp salt

- 1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper (adjust to preference)

- 1/2 tsp pepper

- 1/2 to 1 whole small squash, very finely diced

- 1 lb. ground turkey

Preparation

Let milk and bread crumbs stand for about 20 minutes, while you continue with the recipe.

Saute onion until translucent, add garlic for last minute.  Set aside to cool.

Combine eggs, spinach, herbs, Parmesan, salt, peppers, and squash with bread crumb mixture.  Then gently mix with meat -- don't overmix!  Cover with plastic wrap or lid, and let sit in refridgerator for 1 hour.  (In a pinch, I've stuck in freezer for ~20 minutes.)  This firms up the mixtures, which makes it easier to scoop out for next step.  

Preheat oven to 425.  Put aluminum foil snuggly over baking sheet, and brush with olive oil.  After refrigerated for one hour, use an ice cream scoop to portion out meatballs.  Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees, or until meatballs start to brown.  

Here, you can either cool them and freeze them for later, OR simmer in your sauce of choice for about 15 minutes.

Suggested variations

- If you simply must have ground beef, but wish to be a bit healthier, you can double the recipe, and use 1 lb of ground turkey and 1 lb of LEAN ground beef.  (Or half a lb of each)

- Aren't all things better with cheddar?  Replace the parm with cheddar.

- I always try to pack as many veggies in to a dish as I can: add bell pepper to this one.  Also, very finely chopped broccoli and/or cauliflower.  I recommend steaming them both first.

- I substituted bread crumbs with Panko crumbs.  You can also grind up smoked almonds, for a nice punch.  

**This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you click/purchase/sign up for this offer, I may receive a small amount of compensation for it.**