Spaghetti with Spinach & Broccoli in a Red Sauce with Turkey Meatballs

Tonight’s dinner was one of my favorites.  The only thing that would have made it better was if I made the spaghetti myself.  That’s always fun and definitely delicious.

Whole Wheat Spaghetti, Broccoli, Spinach, & Turkey Meatballs in Tomato Sauce topped with parm. cheese

My Favorite Tomato Sauce

1 big can of Whole Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes

1 small can of Tomato Paste

water

Salt & Pepper

Garlic

Dried Basil & Parsley

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil

Saute a small amount of olive oil and garlic over medium heat in a big pot.  Be careful not to burn the garlic!!  After the garlic has had a chance to saute, add the can of Whole Peeled San Marzano Tomatoes and break the tomatoes up with your hands or a wooden spoon.  I like to leave some of the tomatoes chunky, but that’s just my preference.  After the tomatoes are mostly broken up, add the can of Tomato Paste, half of a big can of water,  dried basil, dried parsley, salt, pepper and fresh basil.  Use your judgement with the amounts that you put in.  I like to rip some of the fresh basil up and toss it in & I also throw some whole leaves of basil in the pot.  Bring up to a boil and then let simmer for as long as you can!

There you have it.  My favorite tomato sauce ever.

Turkey meatballs are also delicious.  I actually can’t remember the last time I had a regular beef meatball.  I tend to make either chicken or turkey meatballs.  They are much healthier for you and I think that they taste better too.  Lots of people fry their meatballs, but this version is baked…making them even healthier for you.

Turkey Meatballs

1 package of ground turkey breast (it is important that you buy ground turkey BREAST, this is all white meat.  They also sell ground turkey, which is a mix of dark and white meat)

salt & pepper

dried basil & parsley

1 egg or 1 egg white

1-2 small handfuls breadcrumbs (I use Whole Grain Bread Crumbs)

1-2 small handfuls Grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese

few cloves of minced garlic

milk

Place the ground turkey in a big bowl.  Add the egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, salt, pepper, garlic, dried basil & parsley.  Mix together with your hands.  Add a little bit of milk.  Be sure not to overmix the turkey mixture!  If the mixture is too wet, add more breadcrumbs…if it is too dry, add more milk.  Form into balls.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Place on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with PAM.  Drizzle a little olive oil over meatballs.  Bake for about 20 minutes, turning the meatballs over about 1/2 way through cooking.  Enjoy!

Dinner was also served with an amazing loaf of bread that I picked up from Whole Foods today, Organic Multiseed Batard.  Next time you’re at Whole Foods, look for it and pick it up!  So amazing.

The ingredients list: water, organic wheat flour, organic whole wheat flour, organic rye flour, organic sunflower seeds, organic sesame seeds, organic rolled oats, organic pumpkin seeds, organic flax seed, sea salt, yeast, organic dough conditioner (organic wheat flour, enzymes, ascorbic acid)

Stay tuned later in the week for some more good recipes that I have planned!