I found the recipe on Pinterest and was determined to try it, although I honestly only cook about .5% of the recipes I pin. But I was resolute to do this one, mostly for my tastebuds but also for personal reasons.
I've been on a weight loss plan since March, and so far, I've lost 38 pounds. I'm not on any special diet plan (no paleo or Atkins here), but I am keeping close track of my calories and exercising more. So pasta and meatballs is usually something I reserve for a splurge day or on a day that I know I'll be really active. So there's that reason.
The other reason is my husband. He is a master at making meatballs. He's been perfecting the art since we lived in Chicago, where all we could afford to eat was pasta and hamburger. Through the years, he's added and taken away ingredients and the end product is a great meatball that he's very proud of.
Since I've been losing weight, I have not allowed him to make meatballs very much, and I know he misses making them. He's also been gone most weekends lately, either working both of his two night jobs or working on films, so even if I said it was okay, he wouldn't have a lot of time.
Pasta and meatballs is my comfort food, not just because it's stick-to-your-ribs good, but because it reminds me that when you pair two really great things together they become even better. Have them apart, and you only want the other thing with it. And pasta and meatballs pretty much sums up these past weekends without my husband.
He's away now and hasn't come home yet tonight (it's 8:45 pm, despite what my posting time says). The boys are in bed, and the pasta's already in the fridge. I'm hoping he'll have a bowl before going to bed and find some comfort after a long day. I'm also hoping he can't tell that it's light.
The link to the recipe is below. It's from food blog pinch of yum, which has tons more recipes I'm hoping to try.
Before you try it, here's my two cents on what I did differently. Instead of minced mini red peppers in the ground turkey, I put in pureed mini orange and yellow peppers. I don't have a food processor, only a knock-off magic bullet, and that thing only purees. I also did not have whole wheat Italian breadcrumbs and used regular Italian breadcrumbs. Additionally, I added about 1/2 tsp. of onion powder with the meat mixture for just a little onion flavor to go with the peppers. I still thought the meatballs tasted great. I also used rigatoni instead of spaghetti. I've always liked pasta but I've never been a fan of spaghetti. Too messy. Too much work.
Here's the recipe: pinchofyum.com/skinny-spaghetti-and-meatballs
And here's my (amateur) food photography. Notice how messy...erm, rustic...it looks. Happy eating.
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