Hard to believe it’s Spring here in So Cal.  As I sit here and write and glance out my office window it’s about as gray and windy as you can imagine.  The weather service says we‘re in for yet another huge storm!

I was hoping to grill-as my hands are not co-operating much lately.  But alas, that is NOT in the cards today.

My husband asked for, of all things, turkey meatballs and pasta for dinner.  He knows lifting a heavy pot of water is just not happening.

Luckily I made couscous in chicken broth last night-enough for leftovers today.  That’s close enough for me!  I also roasted a lot of broccoli in some cumin and steak seasoning.  Again, enough to serve us tonight.  

Later, once I’ve both taken a hot shower and doused my hands into a hot tub of soothing wax, I’ll make and bake off the turkey meatballs.  I heat up some sauce, once hubby gets home.  

He’s going to have to open and pour that sauce into a pot for me.  Seems only fair since he asked for this meal!

Now for the “recipes“.  Couscous-figure, like rice, 2 parts liquid, 1 part couscous.  Boil the broth (you can use water and salt, your choice)with a bit of either butter or oil and add and stir the couscous.  Cover and turn off the heat for about 5-10 minutes.  Fluff with a fork and serve.

Broccoli.  Heat oven to 400.  Line a sheet pan with foil for easy clean up.  Spray with some EVOO.  Toss the broccoli with a tablespoon of EVOO for every 4 C of vegetable.  Toss about a tablespoon of both your favorite steak seasoning and cumin.  Pour out onto the sheet and roast for about 15-20 minutes.  

My daughter-in-law and I love it when it starts to char, the rest of the family-not so much.  You choose!

The meatballs.  Everyone has their own versions.  I don’t like to fry, not a single bit.  Since the broccoli’s in the oven anyway, you can but both it and the raw meatballs in at the same time and they should finish together.

Warm your favorite sauce up while the rest if cooking and carefully put the meatballs into the sauce when they‘re done.  

I’d line the sheet pan for them as well-no scrubbing or dishpan hands after this meal!

My meatballs?  Gently toss one of those packages of all breast meat (a little over a pound and it will serve 4) with 1/4 cup of egg beaters (or 1 whole egg), 1/2 C panko bread crumbs, 1/4 cup minced onion and 1 tsp. minced garlic, 1 tsp. seasoned salt.

I make the meatballs about 2-3 tablespoons in size.

Make sure your hands are damp when you form them and the mixture won’t stick.

Since there’s only the two of us-I won’t have enought of the couscous or the broccoli left for tomorrow night, but I’ll go out and get us some fresh foccaicia rolls and make some meatball sandwiches tomorrow night and serve it with a nice salad.

Think ahead and life, even when “difficult” can be made easy.