Day three, a break from Turkey -- Chicken Meatballs Tonight

I feel that we should eat a balanced diet with good protein, fruits and vegetables to get our vitamins.  If we eat well we should not need to take vitamins.  Most of the vitamins people take are flushed down the toilet anyway.  Our bodies can only absorb so much and you have to figure that getting vitamins from their natural source is better for you.  I also count Candy as a food group - not so good but delicious!
I often cut up a plate of celery, carrots, cucumber and peppers and put them on the dinner table.  I then take what ever is left and bring it into the family room while we watch TV.
Alternatively I cut up melons and or pineapple with berries or cherries or what ever I have in the house (usually what fruit is on sale that week) and put it out on the table.  If it is in front of them they eat it.  Much better than snacking on chips!
Cold weather always makes me want to have a big pot bubbling on the stove.
With only three of us home tonight (my youngest is on the train to Toronto and staying overnight) and Gumbo in the fridge I have to scale down a bit on the pot size and make something which won't produce leftovers (we are big eaters this dish can easily serve 4)
I am making Chicken Meatballs.  You can use ground turkey or ground chicken but as we have eaten turkey in some form for three days now I am going to use ground chicken (I had some in the freezer) to avoid the possibility of  "Gobbling".  I still have oregano in the garden and I was able to harvest the last of the parsley (which is good because I forgot to buy some).  A herb garden is a wonderful thing.
You can make the meatballs and bake them ahead of time, or you can make this start to finish in a half hour by making and baking the meatballs, put the water on for the pasta then make the sauce while the meatballs are baking.  You can make extra and freeze the meatballs in the sauce for another meal.  Anything with tomato sauce reheats well.


Chicken Meatballs                                         

Ingredients

1 lb ground chicken (or turkey)
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 egg
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese                                                            
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 sliced yellow or orange pepper (you can use green or red as well)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 14oz can fire roasted tomatoes (if you cannot get fire roasted use imported Italian chopped tomatoes)
1/2 cup chicken stock

250 grams fettuccine, or tagliatelle nests
                                                                                                                    Meatball mixture
Directions

For meatballs:
Heat oven to 350
Mix ground chicken, breadcrumbs, egg, Parmesan, oregano and parsley with your hands just until blended.
Wet your hands lightly and form the meat mixture into 1 balls.  Place them on a parchment lined baking pan and bake about 15 minutes until lightly browned.

Raw Meatballs                                                              Cooked Meatballs

Putt the water on for the pasta and cook as directed


For sauce:

On medium heat in a large skillet add olive oil to heat, when it is heated (throw a couple of drops of water-if they sizzle it is hot) add onions and peppers, cook 4-5 minutes until softened then add garlic (do not let garlic brown - it becomes bitter).  Cook another minute and add tomatoes and chicken stock, mix together and add meatballs.  Simmer for minimum of 5 minutes uncovered then cover for up to 30 minu (better if you have the time)


Place pasta on dish and put meatballs and sauce on top.