Sweet and Spicy Turkey Meatballs

Spicy meatballs served with sautéed spinach, broccoli, sesame carrots, and a fried egg

My family LOVES meatballs. I love that they’re an easy addiction to meal prep Sunday, and we all love how yummy and satisfying they are.  

I found myself in a meatball rut in the winter, and my friend Jasmine shared a recipe for Asian meatballs that sounded like a great way to mix things up. 

On the go- served with sweet potatoes, brown rice, broccoli, and carrots

One of my goals with this site is always to share healthier versions of comfort food. I love to sneak in extra veggies, and stick to ingredients that don’t weigh you down.  

I used that original recipe as a spring board to experiment with new flavor profiles, and after a few attempts I found this combo, and knew it was the winner.  

SPICY MEATBALLS

• 2lbs ground turkey

• 1/2 sweet onion, diced

• 3/4C oat flour

• 1/2C grated zucchini

• 2 eggs

• 2 cloves garlic, diced

• 2tsp chili powder

• 1tsp ground ginger

• 1tsp smoked paprika

• Pinch Himalayan pink sea salt

• Pinch black pepper

1. Add all ingredients to a bowl, and mix thoroughly by hand.

2. Form into 1-1/2in balls, and bake at 350 for 20 minutes on a foil lined baking sheet (makes 24 meatballs)

SRIRACHA HONEY GLAZE

• 3 Tbsp Sriracha

• 3 Tbsp Tamari

• 3 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar

• 3 Tbsp Honey

• 1 tsp Ginger Paste (available @ Trader Joe’s) or 1tsp minced ginger

• 1 minced clove of garlic or 1/2tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp fish sauce

• 1 tsp chili powder

• 1/2tsp cinnamon

1. Add all ingredients to a small sauce pan, and simmer for 5-7 minutes.

These meatballs reheat beautifully.

Once the meatballs are cooked, transfer to a storage container (like this lovely glass Pyrex) and drizzle the glaze on top. Give the dish a little wiggle to coat them completely!

Serve with AN-Y-THING. veggies, zoodles, brown rice, bibimbap or my favorite, add them to the @toneitupnutrition Butternut Squash Lentil Soup

ENJOY!!!! 😋

Made with extra love- Mexican Mocha Mini Loaves

Before we begin...

As you may have noticed, Bainbridge Kitchen has been quiet for the past few weeks. I've tried to figure out ways to be inspired to share content, but even posts that are 100% ready to publish didn't feel right. 

My grandma was admitted to the hospital in the middle of January with issues surrounding most of her vital organs. I'm sad to share that she passed away earlier this week. 

My Grammy 

I feel so blessed that I was able to spend so much time with her the past month, even if it wasn't under the best circumstances. While she was in the hospital, she all but refused the 'lousy' hospital food. I made sure to pack snacks everyday (because that's what I do) and I was so thankful that I did, because the only thing I could get my grandma to willingly eat was the protein muffins I baked and brought with me. 

My grandma is LDS, and she doesn't drink coffee or alcohol, so it's kind of funny that this post begins with a moment about her. Rest assured, I made sure all of her muffins were made sans coffee or booze. Boy Almighty would she have given me an earful if I tried to sneak that to her.

I won't pretend that I'm not sad even as I write this. My Grammy was one of my favorite people on the planet. She was a firecracker. She took zero grief from zero people, and she loved with all her heart. She also taught me how to cook. Not just cook, bake. My Grammy’s cinnamon rolls are the stuff of legends. My Grammy shared her love through her food, and she will always be my inspiration to do the same. 

So without further adieu, here are my Grammy and non-Grammy approved versions of DELICIOUS Mexican Mocha Mini loaves. Take a minute today to call someone you love, hug someone you love, and make these with a little extra love. I know I will. 

xo, Terra

Mexican Mocha Mini-Loaves

Makes 12 Mini Loaves (I love this mini loaf pan, and this heart shaped pan)

Grammy-Approved (no coffee, no alcohol- still delicious)

• 1/2C chocolate Tone It Up Organic Protein powder
• 1/2C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2C oat flour
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4tsp baking powder
• 1/4tsp salt
• 1/2C applesauce
• 2Tbsp canola oil
• 1/2C almond milk
• 1/4C agave
• 1 egg
• 1/4C chocolate chips

Non-Grammy Approved (a little more decadent, and my personal preference)

• 1/2C chocolate Tone It Up Organic Protein powder
• 1/2C unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2C oat flour
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4tsp baking powder
• 1/4tsp salt
• 1/2C applesauce
• 2Tbsp canola oil
• 1/2C coffee
• 1/4C agave
• 1 egg
• 1Tbsp tequila
• 1/4C chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray silicone baking mold with coconut oil spray, place on baking sheet, and set aside.
2. Combine all dry ingredients, and whisk together.
3. Add wet ingredients to the dry, and stir gently to combine.
4. Stir chocolate chips into mixture
5. Spoon the batter into the baking mold, and tap the pan lightly against the counter to remove any bubbles. Top with heart sprinkles if you're feeling festive
6. Bake at 350 for 17-19 minutes. Mini-Loaves are done when a toothpick inserted to the center comes out mostly clean.
7. Let cool for a few minutes in the pan before transferring to a wire cooling rack. 

**Serve with friends, family, hugs, and sprinkle them with a little extra love**

with love, from my home to yours. 

Things I Love: Essential Oils

Essential Oils have played a part in my daily life for the better part of the last decade. Here are 5 EO's I can't live without, a few ways I use them, and my recipe for homemade cleaning wipes! xo, Terra

My top 5 essential oils (in no particular order)

my go-to @vitruvi diffuser, and a few of my favorite oils

1. Peppermint
   Peppermint has tons of uses. I first used it the way most of us probably did- making peppermint frosted treats for Christmas. Now, this is the #1 oil I turn to when I need relief from a headache; when anyone in the house is feeling nauseous; added to tea when I want a little pick me up; it's also a natural bug repellent, so I like to add a few drops to a spray bottle, and spray it around my windows and doors to keep spiders away.

2. Eucalyptus
   My son was diagnosed with asthma at 18 months. I quickly realized that while I couldn't control the illness, I did have a hand in reducing triggers. I keep a humidifier in Peyton's room, and I diffuse eucalyptus to promote his breathing. I also add eucalyptus oil as a natural disinfectant to my homemade cleaning spray and wipes. When we're feeling under the weather, I put 5-6 drops of eucalyptus on a damp washcloth, and use it in the sauna: the infrared heat plus the essential oil does wonders for relieving  congestion. 
3. Grapefruit
   One of my favorite scents to add in the kitchen and bathroom is grapefruit. I diffuse grapefruit oil in my entryway and kitchen for most of the year, add grapefruit oil to my hand soap in the bathroom, and add a few drops to my homemade cleaning wipes when Peyton helps with chores. Grapefruit is an uplifting fragrance, and I love to mix it with Bergamot in a bath, or in my mop water when I'm cleaning the floors. 
4. Bergamot
   Bergamot is an oil I wear, diffuse, and clean with. I also add it to my tea (it's what gives earl gray tea its delicious scent). I diffuse bergamot on its own and also mix it with neroli oil (orange blossom) to naturally add fragrance to our laundry. 
5. Cinnamon
   During the holidays, I diffuse cinnamon, orange, and clove to mimic the scent of mulling spices on the stove! I love the smell of the holidays, and this combo immediately puts everyone in the Christmas spirit. The rest of the year, I alternate cinnamon and peppermint as bug repellants and also add it to my smoothies as a natural way to regulate blood sugar levels. 

**full disclosure** I am not an essential oil expert, just an enthusiast. For all things EO, check out 2 of my favorite people, and their Instagram pages! If you're looking to broaden your knowledge in this area, let these Boss Babes guide you! I'm just here to sing their praises. 

Sydney of OutbackSherriffs is my health and wellness guru when it comes to EO's -though I don't know if she knows I call her that. ☺️ She knows oils inside and out, and will help you discover the best oils for your life  

Griselda is the master of curated scents. Her page Spruce and Thyme has tons of helpful tips and tricks for incorporating essential oils into your daily life. I am also obsessed with her serious photography skills!! 

Kid Friendly Cleaning Wipes

Because of Peyton's asthma (and allergies), I started making my own cleaning wipes and switched to as many natural cleaning products as I found to be effective. Chores are a family affair at our house, and I wanted to feel good about what Peyton is inhaling, and also what touches his skin. Here's my recipe for kid-friendly cleaning wipes! The best part of this is that there's no waste- Just throw the rags though a sanitizing wash cycle, and you're good to go!

What you'll need:

• 1- 32oz Wide mouth mason jar
• 10-20 assorted sized rags (Old dishtowels and t-shirts cut into 6" or 12" squares do the trick! I use different sizes for different jobs)
• 3/4c filtered water
• 3/4C distilled white vinegar
• 10 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 5 drops bergamot essential oil

How you make them:

• Add all liquids to the mason jar, and give them a good swirl. Be sure to use a glass jar as plastic can react to the oils and vinegar
• Add rags one at a time, fully submerging each rag
• Put a lid on the jar, and give it a few tilts back and forth be make sure each rag is wet enough

How to use them:

• Pull rags from the jar one at a time, squeezing any excess liquid back into the jar (this is where the wide-mouth jar request is most important)
• Use to wipe counters, window sills, shutters, baseboards, sinks, etc! 
• Throw dirty rags into a sanitizing cycle in the washing machine once you're finished, and make a new batch as needed! 

You can fit 20-30 small rags in a jar, but 10 is about how many I can get my son to use before he's OVER dusting and cleaning. 

** one note, these may not be suitable for certain stone countertops. Be sure to check the care of your surfaces before using! **