Spaghetti + Meatballs

recipe for meatballs adapted from here

what an easy, universal weeknight dinner. I don't make spaghetti & meatballs too often, when I do I usually switch up the recipes from time to time. This one is my most used though! I love the parmesan in the meatballs... so good!! After I bake them in the oven (if we are close to supper time), I'll throw them in a deep sided skillet & pour sauce on them to keep them warm. If I bake them in the morning, I'll just toss them in the crock pot on low with the sauce. Easy peasy. I'm always down to try new meatball recipes... send me your favorites!! 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs (I use panko)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (I use preminced, so 1 teaspoon)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I use shredded, but grated works too!)
• 3 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon dried parsley 
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/2 box spaghetti noodles
• 24 oz jar pasta sauce (I use Specially Selected Marinara from ALDI)

1. preheat oven to 400

2. mix beef, onion, bread crumbs, garlic, egg, parmesan, ketchup, salt, pepper, parsley, and basil in a large mixing bowl. Form into 1 inch balls & place on a greased cookie sheet.

3. bake for 20 minutes, or until cooked through.

4. cook pasta according to packaged directions. drain.

5. in a large pot or deep sided skillet, pour sauce to warm. add meatballs once cooked through & mix well with sauce.

6. serve with pasta & extra parmesan! enjoy!!

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What's for dinner: week of July 6th

Sharing what's for dinner this week in the Steigerwalt house! The twins baseball season starts tonight, so easy dinners are a must. We typically order out once a week, usually on the weekends if we are home. Most weekends we spend Friday & Saturday night at my moms & eat supper there with my parents, sister & her family. We are expecting yucky weather this weekend & my sister has plans, so were giving my parents a break from all of us (ha!!) If you're interested in any of the other recipes, let me know & I'll post them this week :) 

This veggie & sausage dish has been a favorite of mine for a few years. We actually got it from Home Chef & loved it, so I saved the recipe & I have made it ever since, with a few changes. Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

EVOO

4 cloves minced garlic (I use preminced, so 2 teaspoons)

1 red onion, diced

8oz grape tomatoes, cut in half

2 zucchini, cut in half moons

2 bell peppers, sliced (I use whatever colors I have in the fridge)

lemon juice 

chicken sausage 18oz, sliced into rounds (I used spinach & feta sausage)

orzo pasta 12oz

shredded parmesan

s+p 

1. bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. add orzo & cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Save 1/2 cup pasta water & drain the rest.

2. in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add in sausage & cook until browned. Set aside.

3. heat another drizzle of olive oil in the pan & add onion & zucchini. Cook until softened.

4. add peppers, garlic & tomatoes. Cook until softened. Season with s+p.

5. add orzo & sausage into veggie mixture. add in 1/4 c of parmesan, squeeze in a little of lemon & a splash of the reserved pasta water & mix together.

6. serve with extra parm & enjoy!

xoxo

Erin

Cait's Famous Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are seriously the best. They are 100% our families favorite. If you don't know, my nephew Liam has extreme food allergies (it's so awful). One thing he is very allergic to eggs..so since he was officially diagnosed, my sister has researched a TON of recipes that will suit her little guy....all eggless...and all absolutely delicious. I actually prefer all of the dessert recipes she's made that are without eggs. You'd never even be able to tell the difference (except for the fact they're even tastier)! Make them for yourself...you will not be disappointed. They are super easy to make & will for sure be a hit at any get together (hint: 4th of July!). If you do make them, snap a picture & tag us on IG @caitlinm.thompson & @eksteigerwalt! Hope you love them as much as we do!

(they love helping me bake!!)

(parkers face!! LOL)

Eggless Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup of butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 tablespoons water

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat butter with white & brown sugar for 1-2 minutes until creamy.
3. Add in flour & baking soda. Mix.
4. Add water, oil, & vanilla. Mix. (if dry, add more water by the tablespoon & mix with hands. I usually add in 3-4)
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Drop by 1-2 tablespoons (I prefer 2 tablespoons) on a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper.
7. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned.
8. Enjoy!!! (makes about 24)

xoxo, 

Erin

A Little Life Update

WOAH. Sorry I have been so MIA the past 2ish weeks! Things have been a little crazy with this whole pandemic& recently with a family issue. Our life has drastically changed, just like I'm sure many of yours did as well. Trying to "home school" my twin boys, while taking care of a baby.. is a little rough. I do know, I am NOT meant to be a home school teacher, or a teacher in general. But, we will make it work.

Matt has also been ordered to work from home. He is still as busy as ever, doing zoom meetings & phone calls most of the day. The boys are still having trouble understanding the fact that just because he's home, they can't bother him all day. lol the whole thing is a work in progress. One slow day at a time...

March in general was a bit rocky for us. Parker got a bug, then Peyton got a bug, so they have been out of school a week before anyone else. Then Arie ended up with the flu. Which was terrifying. Luckily, he responded really well to his medicine & his lungs stayed clear. Thank goodness.

We had a surprise birthday party for my Nana Heaney. No one deserved it more than her!! It was so beautiful. My family from Missouri even came home for it & all of her friends showed up to show her how much she is loved! I only wish we were able to stay longer (we left right after dinner to rush Arie to the Urgent Care). My brother, sister & I got a photographer to take pictures at the party, so I was still able to see how the night went for her. She had a great time & was truly surprised!!

April started off as it always does! My niece Brynn turned 7 & we had a birthday car parade for her with all of her family & friends! It went off perfectly!!! There was about 20 cars filled with people. She was so excited .. I only wish I was able to squeeze her!!!! I love her so much.. we all do!!

We spend most of our days outside as long as the weather allows us. The boys wouldn't care if it was below 0 & pouring rain....they would still try to get outside. Easter was a good day! I spent the morning cooking & then we went to drive by to see the Easter Bunny at our local fire department. We came home, I finished making Easter dinner, & we ate together in the dinning room. After we finished, we got ready & headed down to my parent's t-ball field to play some ball. My entire family walked down for a little & we all eventually walked up to my parents to exchange gifts for the kids. My parents have a huge yard, so it worked out pretty well (social distancing is rough though). The kids were happy to see their cousins, aunt, uncle, grandparents & even my Nana. It was for a short time, but we needed that. I can't wait to hug everyone when this whole thing is over.

Arie turned 7 months TODAY! And he started crawling this weekend!!! I can't believe how big my baby is getting.... its so crazy!! His fourth tooth is about to pop through,  & he loves to eat just about anything he can get his hands on. He is an absolute pleasure!  Summer is going to be so fun with him & his brothers!!!

I hope everyone had a happy and blessed Easter!!

** I would like to ask everyone to please pray for a close family member of mine who was in an accident recently. It would mean the world to us if you could lift her & her family in prayer. And please, KEEP PRAYING!!!! We love her so much. God can perform miracles....we truly believe that! Thank you in advance!!!**

ALSO! I will be posting a few recipes that I have been getting asked to share on here, so I will be working on that now!! If there's anything I've made that you would like to see, just send me a message. So far, the most requested are :

Skinny Stuffed Peppers

Haluski

Easy Breakfast Bake

Ramen Burger

Chili

PHOTO. DUMP