Monday Message #7

Food Love: Chicken Meatballs and Pasta

Let's face it - Spaghetti and Meatballs is the bomb. I don't have children, but if I did this would definitely be a 'all hands in' affair. The meatballs themselves can be prepared then frozen and are an inexpensive way to feed a lot of people at once. I've adapted the recipe and substituted minced beef for chicken. You could even do a chicken/ pork mince combo - pork mince can be so cheap.

I STRONGLY encourage that you get kids involved in creating this dish - hot stove aside, it's a great way for kids to build an appreciation of how food gets in their bellies. And it's fun to ooze the meatball mix through your fingers (who said playing with your food was a bad thing?)

PS. This recipe is garlic heavy. Adjust to taste

Enjoy!

Chicken Meatballs and Pasta

Makes roughly 24 Meatballs

Serves 4

Meatballs

500g chicken mince

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 brown onion, finely chopped

1 cup breadcrumbs

1/3 cup fresh chopped parsley (or basil)

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (extra 1/2 cup to serve)

1 egg

pinch nutmeg

pinch salt

pinch black pepper

2 tbs cup olive oil

Tomato Sauce

500ml jar tomato passata (next to the tinned tomatoes at the supermarket)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Method

1. In a mixing bowl, combine all the meatball ingredients

2. Using clean hands, mix together until well combined

3. Roll mixture into ping ping sized balls until mixture is finished

4. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy based pan (stewing pot preferably)

5. Fry meatballs for 30 seconds on each side until browned, but not cooked all the way through

6. Continue in batches and remove meatballs from pan, set aside

7. Add 1 tbs of oil to pan

8. Add garlic, toss for 1 minute

9. Add tomato passata, bring to a simmer

10. Add remaining olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper and bring to a low simmer for 10 mins. 

11. Add meatballs back to sauce. Continue to simmer for 30 minutes

12. Cook desired pasta al dente

13. Serve in pasta bowls, add cheese

14. BON APPETITE

Getting ready for some chopping and grating. Adults do this part

Dry ingredients in one bowl

Wet ingredients in another bowl

The fun part - mix together! All hands in!

That's a nice meatball

Heat that pan

Get your sauce on!

I was so obsessed with eating that I forgot to take a snap of my serving! Take my word for it, no picture could be as good as it actually tasted.

Let us know how you go!

E x

Monday Message #6

The big chop!

Sometimes you just need to change it up!  Bye-bye ponytail!

Bendigo - a visitor's guide

Recently Max and I attended a wedding in Bendigo. I was excited for two reasons - one: watching two great friends, Lauren and Alex, tie the knot. Two, I straight up fricken LOVE Bendigo.

I'd made two previous trips to this regional Victorian city, to see exhibitions at the Bendigo Art Gallery - The Golden Age of Couture and Modern Love: Fashion Visionaries from the FIDM Museum LA (do you notice a pattern here?) Literally, I had only been to this Gallery and left Bendigo almost immediately. So when another opportunity to visit and see a little more of this regional Victorian town came up, I grabbed it. I was dropping hints for a wedding invite all over the place (sorry LG).

Here are my top recommendations for Bendigo:

Where to stay - The Schaller Studio

There were a few options of places to stay for this weekend getaway but of course I waited til the last minute and most were booked. Except The Schaller Studio. Located on the fringe of the city centre, it's a pretty cool, modern place. Tiny rooms, but awesome amenities (EVO hair products anyone?) and a pod coffee machine per room to boot. It was the vibe that got me though - artist Mark Schaller, who the hotel is named for, has his works on display throughout and it's pretty great. Guests are even encouraged to get arty in the cafe/ bar downstairs. Top notch.

Artwork by Mark Schaller

Sculpture by Mark Schaller

Amenities!

How to relax - Get a massage

We made the bold move to drive from Yorke Peninsula to Bendigo - one rural area to another - which took 10 hours each way. Great road trip, not so great on the back. Before we left, we booked a massage at Refresh Day Spa to work out the kinks. Blisssssssss.

Where to eat brunch - Old Green Bean

My perfect eatery is one that combines food with vintage delights. Old Green Bean does this very thing. Coffee then browse - is there no greater cafe experience?

Where to eat hungover - Grill'd

Burgers and the like. Sweet potato fries. Grease upgraded.

How to spend a day - Attend a Wedding!

There is truly nothing better than celebrating love. This was especially true at this event, given there was a nasty racist rally occurring that same weekend in Bendigo. It felt important to send out the loving vibes into the world to diminish what is needless hate that people harbour. The couple chose a lovely little church in Axedale, conveniently located next to the Axedale Tavern - the most idyllic little country pub, and we watched a thunderstorm come over the sunny blue sky before heading to Bendigo for the reception. Then we drank and ate a degustation menu to die for! Truly an awesome celebration.

Church on a hill in Axedale

Getting ready to degustation

Just a little something...

How to spend half a day - Visit Castlemaine

Only 30 minutes from Bendigo, Castlemaine is a cute little historical town with botanic gardens and old buildings. The Old Castlemaine Gaol atop a hill is worth a look and sit down for a cold beer or cider to look over the town. 

Golden oldie

Castlemaine Botanic Gardens

Steel bars at the Old Castemaine Gaol

How to spend half a day - Bendigo Pottery

Bendigo Pottery is the oldest working pottery in Australia, but offers so much more than that. I mean, ceramics are pretty cool anyway, but there is a vintage flea market, artist's studios and demonstrations. Easily could spend a whole day there - half a day works too.

Bendigo Pottery

How to get a round - Wander

While having a car was helpful, it's so easy to get around Bendigo by walking or by bike. It's a city, but it's not huge. I love wondering around, finding hidden treasures. I discovered great little op-shops. I got side tracked by all the weather board houses (what is it about Victoria and weather board? Like, as soon as you cross the boarder) I got confused by the palm trees. It was awesome.

It could be Hawaii... it's not.

So get to Bendigo if you can readers - try and time it with an exhibition. Or a wedding.

E x