Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

I made dinner. It was daylight so I quickly snapped some photos while my toddler sat there angrily smacking his lips at me.

Hi. This is my life.

My son is a hungry little hippo who insists upon eating any and all food he sees, especially meatballs because he loves them. So I decided speedy photos were better than none and took these because GOSH DARN IT I OWE YOU ALL A RECIPE. And it's a good one, guys. You're gonna love it.

They're yummy. They're flavorful. They're pretty darn easy (thanks to our lovely friend the slow cooker--I know pressure cookers are like the big thing but don't even talk to me about them because I am TERRIFIED of them so I'll just live with the sweet torture that is the low and slow cooking machine. Luckily-this recipe only cooks for like 2.5 hours!). The meatballs are super tender and delicious and the gravy is creamy and has sour cream in it so you know that equals pure YUM. Just serve them over mashed potatoes or egg noodles and enjoy pure comfort food.

Slow Cooker Amish-style Shredded Beef

And another new delicious dinner has been added to my rotation! Sometimes, particularly when James was small, my in-laws would come over and bring dinner (and play with the baby, of course). One day Michael's stepmom brought this incredibly flavorful, melt in your mouth, shredded roast thing that she served over egg noodles (alongside roasted carrots-which we just talked about a few weeks ago). I asked her how she made it and it involved a packet of onion soup-I really loved the dish and the idea of it so I set out to sort of make my own, from scratch, version. 

And I did-to MAJOR success. The only downside was attempting to name it. Google made it seem like this was similar to Amish shredded beef recipes so I sort of used that (I mean...I live near-ish to Ohio's Amish Country so...sure) but let me just sum it up for you. 

You create a flavorful gravy-like situation that a roast (along with some garlic and onions) slowly cooks in. Then it's falling apart tender and SO SO flavorful and you shred it up and mix everything together and serve on top of mashed potatoes or egg noodles or whatever suits your fancy. And it's SO DELICIOUS. Seriously...SO. FRIGGIN. GOOD.

Eat it.

Salisbury Steak Meatballs

It's official. It took awhile, but it happened. Winter struck. So now it's chilly and there is sometimes snow and there are really only 2 things to be happy about with this wintry turn of events: Christmas and comfort food. Rich...warm....satisfying comfort food. And I've already decorated for Christmas so...until the 25th....it's comfort food time. And these meatballs are TOTAL comforting deliciousness.

I'm not like a person who's into salisbury steak-it always seems like a gross cafeteria food that is shown on TV. BUT when I found this recipe for salisbury steak meatballs...they sounded pretty darn fantastic. With the exception of the fact that there were mushrooms in it and Michael and I don't dig the 'shrooms. So I changed up the recipe a smidgen by removing the mushrooms BUT to keep some of that flavor I used truffle oil. Which is one of my favoritest favorite things.

But forreals this recipe is pretty darn simple to make (there's even a slow cooker option, although I'm never patient enough for that), and it's quickly become a favorite of mine and Michael's. And considering how darned repetitive and boring my dinner options tend to get (picky eater alerrrrt), it's always nice to add something new to the lineup!

So essentially what we end up with are really rich and flavorful meatballs in a gravy-like sauce situation and I like to serve them over mashed potatoes/mashed sweet potatoes but you can also spoon them over some noodles or some such. You do you boo.

Ricotta Meatballs

I'm an Italian gal who loooves ricotta cheese. I LOVE IT! On pizza, in lasagna, even in gnocchi! My heart breaks for my poor brother-in-law and his wife: they moved to North Carolina this year (my sister-in-law, Emily, is attending grad school down there) and apparently they do not have much in the way of Italian food. Like...they don't carry ricotta in normal grocery stores. WHAT THE WHAT??! That's insane. And sad. I'm sure they both load up on the Italian food when they visit, though, but still...that'd be a tough one for me.

Soooo...when I saw the idea of putting ricotta in meatballs. Clearly, I was gonna have to try it. And I'm so glad I did! It's not like a totally revolutionary thing-it didn't make meatballs all of a sudden taste totally different! Buuuut...I definitely think it added a little extra somethin' to them, and they were super moist. Which I think is probably due to the ricotta? Regardless, I like 'em. You'll probably like 'em and....if you live in the South and have a hard time finding ricotta....oh man. I'm so sorry. Someone needs to like...write a letter about this. Because it's a real problem.

Or you could just make this meatball recipe.

But I still recommend you try this one.

Mom's Pot Roast

I wish I could properly type out a cry of victory.

Maybe like this?: "EEEEEEEEEEE AHAHAHAHAAAAA YAYYYY YES YES!!"

Meh. It'll do. The important fact to take away is this: I love my mom's pot roast. And I have been unable to replicate it myself. UNTIL NOW! YIPPEE!

This pot roast recipe has been my white whale for YEARS now, and what's funny is....IT'S NOT EVEN HARD TO MAKE. Like....it's kind of insanely easy (you don't even need to sear the meat--the only dish you're gonna dirty is the crockpot! And cutting board...but still.) So why did I have problems? I didn't have the correct kind of slow cooker--I had a super old one that didn't have low and high settings-it had temperatures. And it seems like it couldn't cook it slow enough. I don't know, but what I do know is that I now have a real, beautiful, crock-pot and I took my mom's roast and made it my own. 

This was the recipe that my mom would always make for my birthday, or when I came to visit. And apparently the fact that I love roast caught on because then my mothers in law also started to make me their recipes. And they're ALL good. But...you know. There's something about the recipe that you grew up with...it's special. So I'm a bit partial. But...you know...I also am pretty into this whole cooking/baking thing. So I very slightly improved upon the recipe. But in minuscule ways (namely I added onions and I cut the potatoes smaller so they would cook all the way through, as my mom's tend to be hard and uncooked in the middle sometimes because they're too big of chunks).

Anyway. Let me tell you about this roast--it falls apart. Like...insanely tender. SO flavorful. And you can really add any veggies you want (like carrots, for example) but I'm a big fan of potatoes and onions (yes...those orange veggies are potatoes--cooking in the juices turns them that color. And makes them melt in your mouth delicious). This is gonna be your new fave. I'm so excited. It was so good.

Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

I have too many shaped pastas. I don't know how. I don't know why. All I know is I have penne and shells and whatnot for days-and no idea what to do with all of it.

So Michael promised me he'd eat penne with meat sauce. If there were meatballs.

Then all I had to do is mention the idea of mozzarella stuffed meatballs and that was it. Michael was all about it. They had to be made soon.

Fun fact about this recipe: it originally used ground turkey for the meatballs. Which you can absolutely do. However...we like our beef, so I subbed it in. But if red meat isn't your fave or if you're trying to stay a little leaner with the meat go to town with the turkey! Ironically Michael's favorite meatballs are his mom's...and I'm pretty sure she uses turkey. But for some reason hers are the only ones where it's ok with him, I guess?

I kinda want to make a meatball sub with these. I wouldn't even need to add any more cheese. All you need is the bread and some sauce and the meatballs....mmmm, sounds pretty good methinks!

Oh and when you make the meatballs, don't be alarmed if some cheese goes rogue and just oozes out of random places. Cheese is tricky like that. It's ok. It's part of its charm! We forgive you cheese, and we love you for you.

These meatballs are moist, flavorful, and bursting FULL of cheesiness!

If you want to get crazy authentic you can attempt to stuff legit. mozzarella in these meatballs. I'm not sure what will happen, though. I can only attest to what goes down when you use string cheese, but far be it from me to curb your creativity!

French Dip Sandwiches

Hi. I'd like to introduce you to my new favorite thing. (I know I say that a lot, but stay with me on this.)

It's essentially super tender shredded roast beef. On bread. With mozzarella cheese. Dipped in the juice the beef cooked in. And it's filling and comforting and SO YUMMY I COULD DIE.

Like, literally. I almost died for this sandwich.

... ok not exactly.

What happened was I went to slice a baguette in half for a sandwich (my 3rd and final one from this batch, in fact) and I um...didn't have my fingers placed wisely. So I ended up slicing into my middle finger with a bread knife! Albeit a sharp Wusthof bread knife, but still. Embarassing.

So then my finger was bleeeeding and bleeding and I realized this was a much deeper cut than I've dealt with in the past and I realized I might actually need medical attention. But first I called my mom, in hopes she would be like "Nah. You're cool." But she told me to call my doctor. So I did. And they said I, at the very least, should have a tetanus shot so yeah I should go to Urgent Care. So Michael left work (just 30 min. early) and came home and took me to Urgent Care (leaving a bathroom full of bloodiness in our wake) and long story not that short I ended up with 3 stitches.

MY FIRST STITCHES EVER! It was not fun. But you know what I did when I came home?

I made myself that sandwich.* And I ate it. And it was all worth it in the end.

*My mom cut the bread for me this time....just for safety.

So now I'm typing this post with a bunch of gauze on my left middle finger that makes it look like a snowman. And my finger hurts. I should probably take some Tylenol. You probably didn't care about any of this and you just want to know about the sandwich. My bad.

Super tender and flavorful, falling apart, perfect roast beef that you just let cook in a crock-pot gets piled onto your favorite bread (I obtained some roasted garlic loaves of bread from Giant Eagle but you do whatever you want. Next time I'll probably go for a more straightforward kind of hoagie or some such). Then you melt some lovely mozzarella on top. And...then you top it with the other half of the bread that you sacrificed your finger for. And then you dip the bread in some of that lovely "au jus" (which I presume translates to "with juice", yes?) that is the good beefy brothy stuff the beef cooked in. And it's heaven. Perfect for this chill that's currently in the air. Perfect for a girl whose finger is hurting. Perfect for youuu.

Grandma's Beef Stroganoff-Beef Checkoff #MC #Sponsored

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the Beef Checkoff. I received products to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

This recipe should actually be titled: Grandma's Beef Stroganoff, adapted by Mom, adapted further by me. But that's a bit of a mouthfull. My grandma's recipe involves mushrooms. Mom and I are not fans so she adapted this recipe to use gravy and beef broth instead. And then I further adapted it by making stuff a little bit more from scratch (namely...subbing out a packet of onion soup for actual seasonings) and I added more chunks of beef. Because....really...more beef=more better.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. First of all...I gotta say it: I'm a beef gal. I love it. If I got out to eat there's a decent chance I'll get a burger, steak, or roast beef. Because BEEF IS DELICIOUS. And the insane thing is...I ALMOST NEVER make beef at home! Something about my inability to grill mixed with my constant butchering of my mom's pot roast recipe have led to a beef drought in this house that HAD TO END.

So I ended it. Thanks to the Beef Checkoff!

What's the Beef Checkoff? It is a national marketing and research program, established in 1985, funded by America's cattle farmers/ranchers. The national checkoff program is directed by cattle farmers, ranchers, and importers and they direct funds to research and promotion to increase domestic (and potentially international) demands for BEEF! Plus it's overseen by The Cattlemen's Beef Board and the USDA. One of the contractors for Beef Checkoff is the National Cattlemen's Beef Association-they manage research and promo programs on behalf of US farmers and ranchers (and are also overseen by the Cattlemen's Beef Board and the USDA)-including the "Beef. It's What's for Dinner" brand--you guys totally know that one, yeah? Yeah!

Here is what I know: The "Beef. It's What's for Dinner" website is AWESOME! Like...I feel like I officially have 0 reasons to not make beef more! The website has a ton of recipe ideas, grilling tips and info (helpful for my grilling phobia!), and even info. about the health benefits of beef (hint: there are tons!) You def. need to check it out and then try to find new ways to incorporate beef into your home cooking too! In my oh so humble opinion.

To celebrate my new commitment to making beef dishes at home I decided to really take it home--I created my Grandma's Beef Stroganoff recipe and served it to my mom and grandma (and Michael, duh!) We had such a fun little dinner party (featuring the use of my adorable new Beef Checkoff oven mitt :P), and I was a little nervous about serving them my version of the recipe that they both have in their regular repertoire! Of course, my nerves were for naught. EVERYONE loved this tasty dish-and my mom said she couldn't even taste the difference with the fact that I subbed out the dried soup! Hooray! It just tastes comforting and beefy (I know, weird adjective, but true!) and flavorful and it's just my idea of the perfect entree.

Seriously, could not be an easier recipe. You throw a bunch of stuff in the crockpot. Let it go. Boil some noodles. SERVE! Easy peasy and a def. new favorite-Michael full on approved and insisted that I should make it regularly as well. Crowd pleeeeaser!

Cheeseburger Sliders

Like I said on Wednesday, I love burgers.

We've had a long journey, burgers and I (with one constant: I like my burgers plain, just beef, cheese, and bun!):

• When I was very little, I would only eat McDonald's (dumb little Kayle!)
• As I got older, I ordered almost exclusively burgers anywhere we went, and I wasn't too picky on quality.
• In conservatory, I became much more picky about burgers, but would eat them...almost every day (thanks to a diner right across the street and my George Foreman grill...which I blame partly for my current inability to eat burgers I make...more on that later). My friend Nathan "famously" said: "You've heard of the Burger King? Kayle is the Burger Queen."
• Now, I rarely have a burger: only on a rare occasion where we go out and it's a place that looks like it has SPECTACULAR burgers (or if I know they have great burgers).

And, also like I said, I have always been fairly certain in my inability to make burgers myself (although Michael makes some delicious ones!) This recipe made me think, "...maybe I can do this?"

It's a pretty darn easy, pretty darn simple recipe. And with summer coming up, I had to share!

Michael was a big fan, he really liked these little sliders.

But...*sigh*

I couldn't eat them. I tried a bite and I just...well...didn't like it. For no particular reason. I still don't know what the problem is. Maybe it's all psychological. Apparently I just need to leave burgers to the professionals...or the boyfriends.

Do not let this dissuade you from giving these a try, they really did get rave reviews from Michael, and he's pretty smart. :)

"The" Meatballs

YOU GUYS!

I recently made the best meatballs (I think) that I've ever had! Certainly the best I've ever made!

Now, I'm not gonna call these "the best" in the title because...everyone has different preferences. Michael's favorite are his mom's. Some people like pork. Some, like me, prefer all beef meatballs. 

So, like I was saying-to me-these meatballs are the best. Michael REALLY liked them too (he didn't even bring up his mom's, which is a good sign). They have just the right amount of flavor and tenderness, and can be used pretty much any way you prefer to use meatballs. I'm currently obsessed with the idea of using these to make a meatball sub.

Truth be told? 

I liked these so much I ate them plain, with just a little bit of sauce. Because they are that good.

Mini, Baked, Meatballs

I did it!!! I made it through Lent without cheating on a single meatless Friday! Woohoo! A small accomplishment, but exciting, nevertheless. As a reward for being so good, I have extra meaty little treats, just for you! Mini, baked, meatballs!

I hate to be annoying and barely write anything for y'all to read, but I am simply exhausted! Lots of exciting stuff going on in this cooking actress' life :).

Don't you fret-I will continue to supply you with tasty foods!

Mini, Baked, Meatballs

Adapted from How Sweet It Is