Our adventures in wine tasting were incredibly successful. We visited three different wineries, definitely peaking at our second stop, which also included lunch. Lunch, though, if you could call it that, was exactly the reason why I needed something for dinner that would not wrek havoc on my very confused tummy.
The winery that we grabbed lunch at offered an amazing concoction--a sourdough breadbowl filled with melted brie. It may not sound that amazing, but let me tell you--this concoction was incredible. The amount of wine we had consumed may have also contributed to my awe, but I don't think my tastebuds were lying. They were rejoicing.
When we first walked into the winery, we walked by baskets that were brimming with fresh, hot and steaming loaves of sourdough. The three of us looked at each other, reached out and touched the warm bundles and instantly agreed that that bread needed to be a part of our visit. Generous pours of fruit-flavored sparkling wines (think: pineapple, raspberry, peach, etc.) and five tastes apiece that turned in to more like 10, we decided it was time to explore our sourdough future.
For $16, we received what I have concluded was bread and cheese nirvana. The sourdough was warm and the crust was crispy and perfect. Peeling back the top layer of bread revealed a buttered garlic bread layer, which thinly veiled the gooey cheese perfection below. The three of us had no problem putting away a bread bowl that was roughly the size of a soccer ball. And we were not ashamed.
We followed this winery stop with an impulse detour into a winery that boasted chocolate wines. We were intrigued when we had initially passed this winery on our way to our other stops. So, as we were headed home, we decided it was necessary to explore this chocolate option.
And necessary doesn't always mean good. We tried them. And they were chocolate. We weren't entirely sure they were "wines," but we did have a good time creating our own tasting notes. From spiked chocolate milk (or Bailey's), to stale Dollar Store chocolate, to Cherry Dimetapp and Boone's Farm and finally Chocolate Mouthwash, the samples were... eclectic? Needless to say, these flavors, on top of the bubbly, real wines and pounds of cheese and bread we had consumed, did not sit well. Turmoil was definitely taking hold in our tummies.
After some serious napping and several gallons of water, I emerged from my chocolate-cheese-carb coma and began fumbling around the kitchen to try and scrape together something for dinner that would not send my already unhappy stomach into further sickening spirals.
The fridge boasted onions, eggs, milk and ground turkey. The pantry had ample spices. It was an easy choice---meatballs were easy to make and the flavors were mild enough that my tummy ache would subside. Plus, I could easily make a large batch and put together some little pasta dishes for the freezer. Added bonus: I could take another power nap while the meatballs baked.
Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (lean)
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup bread crumbs (I used Italian style)
- 1 T garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon horseradish
- 1 T red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 T minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 T Worcestershire sauce
1. Preheat the oven to 400.
2. Spray a baking sheet with non stick spray.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the ingredients together. If the mixture will not hold it's shape, add more breadcrumbs.
4. Shape the mixture into golf-ball sized mounds and place them on the baking sheet.
5. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
6. Toss your meatballs on top of your favorite pasta and sauce!
