One of my best friends who I haven’t seen in a few months came over for dinner last night.  (Interesting how you can live in the same city as someone, but not see them for months!)  I decided to cook her favorite meal of mine, turkey meatballs and mashed cauliflower.  When we were in college, she used to magically appear when I cooked this meal, so I always made a little extra for her.  Last night we ate, drink some great wine, and caught up with each other..  Below are the recipes for my best friend’s favorite meal.

Turkey Meatballs:
1 Pack Ground Turkey
1 Pack Thawed Frozen Spinach
2 Eggs
2 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs–I use Ezekiel bread crumbled in a food processor
1 Can of Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic, and Oregano or 1/2 jar of tomato sauce
Shredded Parmesan Cheese for garnish
Pepper, Garlic Salt, Onion Powder

Mashed Cauliflower–you may want to double this recipe for more than 2 people
1 Bag Frozen Cauliflower
1 Wedge Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss Cheese
1 Tablespoon Butter
Pepper, Garlic Salt, Onion Powder

For Meatballs:
Preheat oven to 350*
Get your hands dirty and combine turkey, eggs, bread crumbs, eggs, and spinach in large bowl

Cut cheese sticks into six pieces each

Make 12 meatballs and place mozzarella cube in middle.  Cover the cheese with the meatball

Bake the cheese-centered meatballs on cookie sheet for 30 minutes
**Tip:  Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil or parchment and spray with cooking spray.  After the meatballs are baked, cleanup is easy…just throw away tin foil or parchment paper.  No scrubbing required!

For Cauliflower:
Add a few tablespoons and cauliflower to a microwave safe, covered bowl and defrost(about 6 minutes)
Drain cauliflower
Mash cauliflower with a hand blender until creamy
Melt tablespoon of butter
Add melted butter and cheese wedge to cauliflower
Stir cauliflower, butter, and cheese together.  You may have to squish the cheese with a spatula to get the cheese blended with the cauliflower
Add pepper, onion powder, and garlic salt to taste

Warm tomato sauce in pot on stove and add the cooked meatballs.  Simmer the meatballs for 10 minutes over medium heat.

When ready to serve, warm cauliflower in microwave.  Plate meatballs over cauliflower and cover with tomato sauce.  Garnish with  parmesan cheese.

Make this meal and it will quickly become your friends’ favorites!  Enjoy!

Stay hungry…