Spinach Meatballs

These meatballs are easy, flavorful and not as messy as you might think.

If you can afford 93% lean beef, they will run you only 130 Calories each.  I can get many of the ingredients at Costco.  I buy there a lot.  Sometimes I spend more than I would have at the market, but the quality of the ingredients is much higher.  That 93% lean beef comes in a 5 pack of 1 pound tubes.  It's about $3.25 a pound.  This is more than I want to pay for beef, but it is 93% lean.  You can't get that so cheap at the store.  Also, it is already frozen.  Industrialized goods are flash frozen, meaning they remain fresh, flavorful and supple.  They are also frozen at much lower temperatures.  They will not exhibit freezer burn the way meat would if you bought it and froze it at home.

I also purchase 5 pound packs of Italian sausage links from Costco.  You can cook them as a link, or you can simply squeeze the ground sausage out of the casing.  I like Jimmy Dean ground sausage, but again, it is more expensive at the store.

1 pound ground beef
2 pounds seasoned Italian sausage
2 eggs
10 oz frozen (thawed and drained) spinach
1/2 cup Seasoned bread crumbs
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
2 teaspoons dry garlic
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tablespoon dried basil

Step 1: Pre-Heat your oven for 400 degrees.
Step 2: Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix well with your hands.
Step 3: Create balls a little larger than a golf ball.  Place them in a cupcake sheet and bake for 20 min.

Makes three dozen meatballs.  3 or 4 makes a meal.

For best flavor, stew the cooked meatballs in some pasta sauce.  I eat them just like that; with sauce.  We're trying to avoid carbs in the house.

I buy 3 packs of 32 oz Classico pasta sauce from Costco.  It is much more affordable than buying the 24 oz jars at the market.  I also buy cases of hunts tomato sauce at Costco and half it with the Classico sauce.  Sounds silly, but pasta sauce is way to pricy.

1 32 oz jar of Classico Pasta Sauce
2 15 oz   jars of tomato sauce
1 pinch basil
1 pinch oregano
1 pinch garlic powder

Enjoy now or can for later.