Turkey-Ricotta Meatballs: Love at First Bite
Jul 31st, 2008 by Marilyn
Are you, or any breathless young girl you know, familiar with the Twilight books?
My daughter is obsessed with Stephenie Meyer’s wildly successful teen – romance – vampire series, and I must be way off the buzz wagon, because until I smacked into a towering, goth-flavored display at Borders, I’d never even heard of them. But the Twilight phenomenon is huge – the latest book debuts tonight to Potter-like panic and midnight parties, including here, where Josie and her friends will celebrate this dubious tale of angst, algebra and the undead.
Previously not on my radar, the books suddenly appeared everywhere, including my kitchen counter. Josie had her nose in book 3 last night while I worked on dinner, pausing just long enough to explain their appeal:
So, he’s like a hundred years old, but he looks like a teenage guy, and he loves this girl at school.
They live in the Northwest and there’s a lot of woods around them. He belongs to this vampire family that doesn’t eat people.
Eat people?
Well – suck blood from people.
Then what do they eat?
They suck animals.
Animals.
Uh-huh. They suck the blood from deer and stuff in the forest. They think it’s morally wrong to bite and drink from humans.
His vampire family calls themselves vegetarians, because they don’t eat people. Just animals.
And they don’t eat people.
No – his dad vampire is even a surgeon who works on humans.
Doesn’t he get excited by the blood?
No. He has a lot of control. And he helps young vampires who still need people’s blood.
Gotcha. Vampire surgeon. Doesn’t drink blood.
Not a drop.
Um, okay. So – he loves a human girl, right? A teenager.
Right – it is so cool. He loves her but he won’t suck her blood. He watches her sleep but he won’t make her a vampire. Then she kind of loves this werewolf guy, too.
She loves a vampire and a werewolf.
Yeah – and werewolves can kill vampires, but they don’t. They have a treaty. It is won-der-ful. It is soooo amazing.
Okay! In other news, I made some delightful meatballs.
Turkey-Ricotta Meatballs
4 slices white bread, crusts removed and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
3 ounces cooked ham, chopped
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup ricotta cheese (5 ounces)
1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh spinach
2 tablespoons finely shredded fresh basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Preheat the oven to 400°.
Use a food processor to pulse the bread to fine crumbs. Remove the crumbs from the processor bowl, and replace it with the ham, spinach, and basil. Process until fine. Place the crumbs and ham-spinach mixture in a large bowl and add the turkey, eggs, ricotta, Pecorino Romano, oregano, fennel seeds, crushed red pepper and 2 teaspoons of sea salt. Grind a few generous turns of black pepper over ingredients, and mix well. Shape into 12-13 jumbo meatballs, or approximately 24 smaller meatballs. Transfer the meatballs to a lightly oiled sheet pan or roasting pan.
On very low heat, simmer several cups of homemade or good-quality jarred marinara sauce. Place meatballs in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, or until firm and just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and use a spatula to loosen each meatball from the pan. Add meatballs to simmering marinara on stove and adjust sauce seasoning, if necessary, with salt, ground pepper, and oregano. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 15-30 minutes, until meatballs are tender and coated in sauce.
While meatballs and sauce are on stove, cook the pasta of your choice (I like spaghettini, fine spaghetti) and drain, tossing lightly with olive oil. Serve meatballs and sauce, topped by grated pecorino romano and more chopped basil, over pasta.
Serves 4-5
Know your meatball crowd! Double as necessary.
adapted from a Food & Wine recipe by A16’s Nate Appleman
I feel like I’ve been living under a rock, since three days ago I hadn’t heard of the books, and suddenly every blog is mentioning it, WalMart had a big cardboard stand up about it when I went in (which I admit might have been there for more than three days, but I hadn’t been in there since forever).
I guess I’ll have to get to it, though here’s where I admit I haven’t read the last Harry Potter yet either. (Yeah, so much for my geek cred.)
LOL.
Great entry. For me the meatballs were more important: I still don’t know what the series is all about. LOL
I stumbled upon you through A Southern Grace (whom I love) and it’s funny ’cause just tonight my gal pals and I were talking about “Twilight” and Italian Food. Kismet? Perhaps! Your meatball dish looks, dare I say, meaty and delish!? I’ve bookmarked your site and look forward to checking in.
Marilyn, you have come to my rescue! Next week our Section Chief will be my partner in dispatch and he asked me if I’d cook supper at least once. Cook for the (gulp) Chief?! This will be it.
Well , I’m 45 and majorly addicted to the Twilight series as well. The first book was recommended to me by someone who worked in a book store…now there’s no going back. I’m anxiously awaiting tomorrow…cuz you KNOW a midnight event is way past my bedtime!
The meatballs look yummy. Thanks for sharing.
Those meatballs look awesome. And I’m sooo going to have to check out those books! I love to read and vampires/werewolves are right up my alley…oh to be young again and be able to stick my nose in a book while mom cooks dinner.
Unrequented lusty love! Wait till she gets a gander at The Thorn Birds…now pass a meatball…
These look great but until I make them – These are Love at First Site!! I am always looking for ways to sneak healthier versions of favorites into the kitchen. Do not want step son to think he is eating anything good for him
Heaven forbid. Who knows maybe this will be a double win as I may actually get him interested in picking up a book.
Cheers
Cathy
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
Karen:
We must have been under the same rock! As for Harry Potter – you must read the end, but start soon – it takes a while.
JS:
Enjoy the meatballs! About the series – I’m still not totally clear. Vampires and hot throbbing heartbeats.
Erinn:
We already have something in common – we both love Grace! I’m not sure why Twilight and Italian food go together – maybe it’s the red sauce.
Jayne:
The Chief? You’re making me nervous.
Linda:
Josie has just been waiting for an adult to recommend the series for me. You’re the one!
Susan:
I know. I’d rather be the one with the book than the mom at the stove!
Jean:
Oh…mentioning Father Ralph is just hitting below the belt. And Meggie…wait,now I have to cry. Okay, I’m better.
Cathy C:
They are definitely lightened up – not quite as rich as traditional versions, but pretty good for the light side. Enjoy ‘em!
uhhhh…my sister just demanded that I read Twilight. We are both in our thirties. How pathetic.
sounds like an appetizing pre-supper conversation. let’s make sure we’re dealing with marinara sauce and not deer blood.
this recipe is a doubler for sure–bravo.
and i’m glad i’m directing some traffic your way! i so enjoy your blog (and erinn’s too).
love the vampire series…and the meatballs,well I will try those,too!
Hubby is gonna die when he sees this meatball recipe (he is also more of an animal eater than people eater, lol)! We were just talking about turkey meatballs and what kind of good recipes might be out there. Thanks for sharing!
This is so funny because I suddenly was hearing about these books all over the place in the last few days and had no idea what they were about. Now I (sorta) know! Thanks for filling me in. Reading your conversation with your daughter about it was too funny. -Julia
That looks tasty!
LOL @ Jean………..
Great shot of the kitchen sink peeking out behind the meat balls.
Which look YUM….MEEEE….
You are busy with meatballs too, huh?
Smoochies: Welcome! Anyone with the name Smoochies is surely not pathetic.
Grace: we have many unappetizing conversations over the counter. Luckily, they don’t all involve sucking blood.
Theresa: Thanks! Hope you enjoy.
Bungalow in the Hollow: Meatballs are absurdly satisfying, even when they’re a bit lower fat!
Julia: I’m not entirely clear on the plot either. But those books are certainly everywhere.
Kevin: Thank you, enjoy!
Jenni: so glad we got the ginormous sink. It hides all the dirty dishes in the photos!
Caroline: Hello! I often hear that bloggers have some kind of hive mind. I think meatballs are going around.
Finally tried this recipe last night. Since I stopped eating beef, my family has missed having spaghetti and meatballs. These are wonderful! Thank you so much!
What does the ricotta do for the meatballs? Is it to keep them moist or hold them together? I don’t have any in the house and I’m trying to figure out what I can substitute…milk/cream? eggs?
Thanks!
Marilyn, This has become one of my favorites. I made these yum-ME meatballs again tonight.
Oh you made me laugh so hard, bravo!
Those look amazing! I’ve been looking for a good reason to use up some turkey my F.I.L. got last hunting trip!