Obnoxious Inspiration

Ingredients

1 box frozen spinach, defrosted in the microwave

1 1/3 pound (1 package) ground turkey breast

1 medium onion, finely chopped, divided

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 large egg

1 3/4 cups milk, divided

3/4 cup bread crumbs, 3 handfuls

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 palm fulls

Coarse salt and black pepper

Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup chicken stock

1 (10-ounce) sack shredded provolone or blend of Italian cheeses, available on dairy aisle

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, eyeball it

1/4 cup parsley leaves, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Wring defrosted spinach dry in a clean kitchen towel. Place turkey in a bowl and make a well in the middle of it. Add the spinach, all but 3 tablespoons of the onion, all of the garlic, 1 large egg, about 1/4 cup milk, bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, salt and pepper. Mix well. Form into 12 large balls and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Arrange on a nonstick cookie sheet and roast 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

While balls are in the oven, heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Melt butter, add remaining finely chopped onion and cook 2 minutes then whisk in flour. Cook flour 1 minute, then whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk and 1 cup stock. Bring liquid up to a boil then stir in shredded provolone or blended Italian cheeses. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, turn heat to lowest setting.

Place 3 balls on dinner plates and top with sauce, garnish with parsley.

Seriously. Try this. You’ll love it!

Now, about a week ago, the lovely Christina awarded me with this Beautiful Blogger award:

The rules are that I have to name 7 things you might not know about me and then pass this on to 7 other bloggers. Someone else passed this to me as well, and for the life of me, I can’t remember who… so if it was you, please tell me!!!

Here goes:

1. I have no idea what color my hair naturally is. I’ve been dying it in some way since I was 12 years old!

2. I haven’t been to the dentist in a really long time. Like, way too many years. I know its bad, and I’m going soon.

3. I’ve only ever been out of the country twice: once to Spain when I was 18 and once well, to Jamaica a couple weeks ago.

4. I still try to watch 90210 reruns on the Soap Network as often as I can.

5. I’ve never cooked any red meat with bones in it. No ribs, roasts, anything. They kind of scare me.

6. Cooking scallops freaks me out too. They’re so expensive and SO easy to mess up!

7. I quit smoking over a year ago. Yes, I smoked. I found myself hating myself for still doing it after my grandma died and it took me that long to really truly quit… And I quit cold turkey last New Year’s Day. I gained 15 lbs in the process, but I can breathe now!

And 7 bloggers I pass this to:

1. Dori
2. TorontoGirl
3. Monica
4. Joe & Betsy
5. Jessica
6. Rose
7. Carla

Thanks for the award Christina!

There’s a new House on tonight, and I have a chocolate wafer calling my name… have a great night all! EVEN MORE COOKING tomorrow!