Golden Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli

My mom always made the best mashed potatoes, and our entire family loves them.  We look forward to having them around the holidays.  The strangest thing is that she never likes to eat them.  Go figure.  Anyway, I found a sneaky and healthy way for her to try them this way:

About 10 small Yukon gold potatoes cut in 1 inch pieces (or any organic potatoes) peeled or leave the skins on if you prefer.
About 2-3 cups of fresh chopped broccoli, just rough chop, nothing too crazy

2-4 TBSP of sour cream

1-2 TBSP of Smart Balance (or butter if you prefer the extra calories)

About 1/3 cup to ½ cup organic milk (or whatever kind of milk you like)

First steam the potatoes with the broccoli (it looked like 1/2 potatoes and 1/2 broccoli after I put it in the pot) covered, for about 10 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  I love to use my cheap, stainless, little steamer basket that fits into just about any pan.

When they are done, drain or scoop potatoes and broccoli with a slotted spoon and put into a separate large bowl.  

Add sour cream and butter (I just eyeballed it, and used however much I felt like.)

Mash with a masher or a fork.  These are mashed potatoes people, not whipped!  If you want them whipped, they may turn out looking too green, like for St. Patrick's day.  Hmmm, not a bad idea.  Anyway, slowly add milk to the consistency of your liking.

Finish with a dash of salt and/or pepper, or whatever seasonings you like and enjoy!

I held my breath when my mom tried them.  She actually really liked these mashed potatoes.

I just wish I took a picture of her eating them so that I could prove to my family that she actually ate mashed potatoes.  It's okay.  She has already asked me to make them again. 

My Family in the Park

My daughter recently started pre-school for the first time and this drawing just melts my heart!

Mama on the right, on a balance beam.
Papa in the middle, wearing a purple sweater and hat because he is cold.
Just too cute.

I am looking forward to all the wonderful creations to come!

Eggless Turkey Meatballs

These meatballs are friendly for Egg Allergies. 

I changed a basic meatball recipe to a healthier version for my daughter who is allergic to eggs, and they are pretty darn good! 

1 lb. ground white turkey (hormone-free)

2 slices of any whole grain organic bread

About 1-2 Tbsp dried basil

     (eyeball it and put as much as you like)

About 1 tsp Lawry’s Salt--or any mixed seasoning

     (again, season to your liking and add whatever spices you fancy)

About ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

About ½ cup raw wheat germ

About 1 to ¾ cup organic milk

     (any kind is fine---soymilk, almond milk, etc…)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Get a large bowl. Tear up the bread into small pieces, (I tear off the crusts and discard them.)  Put the bread in the bowl with the seasonings, and dry ingredients.  Mix with a fork and slowly add little bit of the milk.  Use the fork to mash and mix, slowly adding more milk until everything starts to look very moist (not soupy, just very wet, sort of like the consistency of ricotta cheese.)

Next add all the ground turkey.  Make sure your hands are clean and dig in with one hand.  Squish, Squeeze, and mix well.  The meatdough will seem sticky, so you will need to have your faucet running a little bit or have a bowl of water handy to wet your fingers to form the balls and to keep the meat from sticking to your fingers.  Form into 1” or 1 ½” balls.

Place on the lined baking sheet.  I made about 16, nicely sized ones.   

Bake for about 25 minutes or until they appear done, usually white and no longer pink in the middle.

When they were done, I put 3 meatballs on a sliced hoagie already lined with Italian tomato sauce, drizzled on more sauce, and then finished it off with shredded mozzarella cheese.  Then I broiled them in the oven on a separate baking sheet until golden and bubbly.

YUM-MEE. 

I was one very happy bee!  

Ooh La La! Fancy Toile!

I have been looking at vintage wallpaper lately in search of the same exact pattern that was in my Nana's dining area.  In my memory,  it appears to be a faded, reddish, pink with white flowery circles on it.  From what I learned, it could possibly be a geometric floral from either the 1940s or 1950s.  I haven't had any luck finding it yet, but when I came across this toile wallpaper online, it totally reminded me of a small remnant of fabric I recently bought at my local Habitat for Humanity for only 99 cents!

So, what can I do with such a small piece of remnant fabric?  I could make about 2 or 3 pillows.  Instead I swiped my mom's little footstool that was looking a little depressed.

I gave it a new look by simply taking it apart and putting it back together like a puzzle, with a little help from the staple gun I borrowed from my husband's massive tool collection.  This was my first attempt with a staple gun.  I am thrilled to say that I didn't put an eye out, my fingers are intact, and the footstool looks much more cheerful now. 

I have just enough fabric leftover to make a small pillow.