Greek Meatballs

3 Slices of torn white bread, crust removed

1 lb. Ground beef or pork

1 Large egg

1 cup Finely minced onion

2 Large cloves crushed garlic

2 Tbs. Olive oil

1 ts. Ground cumin

1/2 cup Chopped fresh parsley

2 Tbs. Chopped fresh oregano

1/2 cup Flour

Oil for skillet frying

Soak bread in water and squeeze it dry. Mix all ingredients except flour in food processor. Do not over blend. Wet hands and work into walnut size balls. Roll in flour and flatten slightly. Preheat oven to 230 degrees. Heat oil in skillet. Drop a touch of flour in the oil to test if it's the proper temperature. It will sizzle and brown the flour. Place half the balls in the skillet and fry for 4-5 minutes on each side. Place on an oven safe plate and leave in oven to stay warm while you finish the rest.

I cooked my sauce in the skillet with the drippings so as to rescue those wonderful flavors and enhance the sauce.

St. Patty's Day is coming!

When I was younger St. Patrick's Day wasn't really any more than a day to wear green so I wouldn't get pinched. That changed three years ago when my husband (then boyfriend) came home for Spring break and asked me to marry him. Now it's one of the best holidays of the year. He's as Irish redhead who looks great in green too making it all the more celebratory. I'll post more details of our engagement later this week.

I did a little bit of research on St. Patrick and found that he had such a strong desire to turn the Irish people away from paganism to God that he sacrificed most of his life doing it. Traveling hundreds of miles by foot to get there. Spending years studying Scripture to be able to teach them about Christianity.

Paul did an amazing amount of travel for the sake of spreading the Gospel to pagans who had no hope.

1Corinthians 9:19-23

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Self examination time for my life and ask if I have such a passion to spread the gospel that I would be willing to sacrifice like they did.

I want to say yes and live it too.

Here's a yummy

Cornbread Nati Style

1 1/4 cup All purpose flour

3/4 cup Stone ground cornmeal

2 tsp. Baking powder

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 Egg (room temperature is always important)

1 cup Low Fat Mayo

1/2 cup Water

Whisk all dry ingredients together and make a well in center.

Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Let rest for 3 minutes. Spread into prepared 8"x8" pan and bake for 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven. Let cool slightly before cutting.

Who's Nati and What's a Tratti?

Let me start with the one that has a much easier definition. A trattoria is a casual Italian restaurant that serves up whatever the chef feels like making, family style, at a cheap enough price to warmly serve the needs of the common folk.

So, to this end I hope to serve the sweet, common souls that need filled and comforted, whether it be by the food I prepare or the morsels of the Christian life I get to feast on daily.