Meatball Nirvana

I promised I'd post the recipe to the meatballs that I brought to our ward's linger-longer. It was a hit!
I also had to make a bunch for me to keep at home because they're just that amazing and they freeze really well too for other meals.

MEATBALL NIRVANA
ADAPTED FROM: ALL RECIPES

MAKES ABOUT 24 MEATBALLS;   PREP-TIME: 20 mins;   TOTAL TIME: 40 mins
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INGREDIENTS:

• 1 lb extra lean ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 small onion; diced
• 1 small garlic clove; minced
• 1 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
• 3/4 tsp. dried Oregano
• 3/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 dash of hot pepper sauce (such as Frank's Red Hot), or to taste.
• 1 1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs

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DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Place the beef into a mixing bowl, and season with salt, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, oregano, red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce, and Worcestershire sauce; mix well. Add egg, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Mix until evenly blended, then form into 1-inch meatballs, and place onto foil-lined baking sheet. You also may want to spray the sheet with non-stick spray to help with sticking.

3. Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.

This seriously is a great recipe! I always have to at least double it when I make it so I have enough left overs ;)

Balsamic & Garlic Chicken with Mushrooms

Why hello there!
I haven't posted a recipe in a while because I got a new "Our Best Bites" cook book for Christmas.
No matter how much I have just absolutely LOVE each recipe I've tried so far, I'd hate to share something that I bought - it just wouldn't feel right. They sell this amazing cook book on Amazon though and it's a great buy - you wouldn't regret it!

Last night I tried a new recipe - I typed into the search engine: garlic mushroom chicken and this is what I clicked on:

BALSAMIC & GARLIC CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOMS 
ADAPTED FROM: ALLRECIPES.COM

SERVES: 4;   PREP-TIME: 10 mins;   TOTAL TIME: 35 mins
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INGREDIENTS:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts; thinned
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 lb fresh mushrooms; sliced
• 1/2 onion; chopped
• 3 Tbsp of butter
• 6 cloves of garlic
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme

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DIRECTIONS:

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Rinse the mushrooms and pat dry. Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and saute the chick until it is nicely browned on one side (about 3 minutes).

2. Add the garlic. Turn the chicken breasts and scatter the chopped onion and mushrooms over them. Continue cooking, shaking the skillet and stirring the onions and mushrooms.  Cook for about 3 minutes, then add the vinegar, broth, bay leaf and thyme. Cover tightly and simmer over medium low heat for 10 minutes, turning occasionally.

3.  Transfer the chicken to a warm serving platter and cover with foil. Set aside. Continue simmering the sauce, uncovered, over medium high heat for about 7 minutes. Swirl in the last tsp. butter and discard the bay leaf. 

4. Pour this mushroom sauce over the chicken and serve.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!!