Guilty once of again of lacking posts: I blame this counting calorie diet. >1200 a day, it’s much less tempting to eat, snack, and munch on all my favorite carb and fatty yummies if they just aren’t around. I haven’t so much lost the ol’ L.B.’s but I’ve definitely carved off some inches, helllllllo skinny jeans once again!
Meatballs….go. OK, ready for the facts? Here we go: Normally, fried in a pan with any combination of beef and/or pork (unless you’re going all out and throwing down your wallet for the veal too. Who can blame you for being authentic?! No one!).These can have upwards of 100+ calories PER meatball. Let’s take it down a notch…on your belt loop that is. Same beef and/or pork combo…BAKED, you’re looking at anywhere between 70-90 calories depending on the size. (I made medium so I’m basing my numbers off that) One more notch, chicken, baked, meatballs. A whooping skim number of 40-50 calories and about 1.5 grams of fat (vs 5-7 with beef)! Winner, winner, chicken dinner! 
Confession: As much as I hate watching every single thing I eat, and blame the fact that “myfitnesspal” app calorie counter has made me a calorie counting freak. You name it, I know it. I can spend and hour just plugging things in to see what the nutritional content is. For instance…something you don’t need/want to know. Donut holes…ughhh I’m a sucker…for donut holes. Cake donut: about 46, Glazed: about 60. It’s been very interesting over the past 3-4 weeks really paying attention to what I’ve been putting in my body. Next week starts the workout regime again…hopefully to drop an actually number on the scale, not just inches!
On accident, I’ve become a ghetto grocery store junky. The main chain stores in town are not in path from work to home…but there are several ghettoquestionabledoublechecktoseeifyourdoorsarelocked ones. In attempts to save on gas and time, I’ve been trying out more the junky stores in route.
Confession part two: I’m addicted to junky stores! Even though they look trashy on the outside, trashy on the inside, less of a selection, kind of dirty, even more questionable cashiers and clientele ….I can’t seem to stay away. Although many of your normal boxed goods, milk, pastas, and produce are more expensive…their yogurt and meat selections are impeccable in every way (the two things I stock up on!). They almost always have a ‘managers special’ steal sticker on them, and as long as you plan on making them the day of….ain’t no thang! (or just stick them in the freezer) I save hundreds of dollars by buying things on sale at the grocery store and sticking them in the freezer or just stopping by to see whats been marked for quick-sale on the way home for dinner that night. I go to the store so often I make it a point to pinch pennies were I can. I love cooking at home, but when you’re cooking small portions it’s just as easy/cheap to go out.
Enough of the money-saving rant, let’s get down to recipe. Whole-wheat pasta, chicken meatballs, and a vodka sauce.
These were super easy, and made a really nice yet quick dinner. They took longer to bake then actually put together! Not to mention they made a ton, so it will be great to freeze these for next time. Meatball sandwiches….or perhaps….a meatball pizza?!!??!?
Also, here’s a a great simple-complicated-different-exotic variation meatball site! http://food52.com/contests/168_your_best_meatballs
Chicken Meaballs
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
3 Tbsp Parsley
s/p to taste
1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper
1 lb Ground Chicken
1/4 cup of Bread Crumbs
1/2 cup cheese (I used mozz/parm)
Mix everything down to the chicken together in a bowl. Then add the last three ingredients and mix well. I used an oversized tablespoon to make medium balls and I got about 26 meatballs.
Topping
1 Tbsp Grape Seed Oil
1 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Tomato Pasta
Bake for 30 minutes at 325.
Claire vs Kitchen 