Homestyle Spaghetti and Turkey Meatballs #AD

This post is sponsored by Ragu but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

The days that the boys spend in the kitchen with me are dwindling. They are getting older. Homework, chores, friends... They love eating, but actually making the food, well that's not as fun as it used to be.

The other day when I called everyone to dinner Alex came into the kitchen and asked what was for dinner. When he saw what I was plating up, he said "I love when you make these meatballs. Someday I'm going to make the same ones for my family!" Why is this kid always talking about growing up and having a family? Hes 7!

If you have been around here, even for a few weeks, you probably noticed something about our Menu Plans. We eat spaghetti probably twice a month. It is Davids favorite, the boys love all things pasta and me, well I love it too, but mostly because it is easy and cheap.

Meatballs do add some time time in the kitchen, but its also one of the ways I can get the boys to help. Any excuse to play with your food. I scoop, they roll. They will not however, mix the meat with their hands. That's fine with me, I think that's the most fun part anyways.

But his comment was just what I needed to hear. I have been feeling so in inspired in the kitchen lately. And feeling like I have been making the same things over and over. You know, sticking to the familiar foods that you know everyone will like.

This is home style cooking to me. In this day in age everyone is so caught up in making Pin Perfect meals, that all the fun is taken out of it. It doesn't have to be 100% perfect. Or made with the most expensive ingredients. I just want to get dinner done and on the table so I can hear the boys latest jokes and adventures. And thanks to the new Homestyle Ragu Sauces, I am able to do just that!

Ingredients:

• 1lb ground turkey
• 1/4c Italian seasoned panko
• 1/4c parmesan
• 1 small onion, grated
• 2 garlic, minced
• 1 egg
• 2t dried parsley
• salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil
• 1lb spaghetti
• 1 jar Ragu Homestyle Sauce

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix turkey, panko, parmesan, onion, garlic, egg and spices. Do not over mix it.
2. Shape mix into balls.  I use a cookie scoop so that everything is the same size. Just scoop and roll.
3. Add oil to a pan and heat on medium.
4. Carefully add meatballs, turning to get a nice brown on all sides till no longer pink.
5.  Add in the Ragu Homestyle Sauce. Stirring gently to cover all the meatballs.
6.  Lower heat, cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Stirring a few times.
7.  While the sauce and meatballs mingle, cook pasta and drain.
8. Plate up the noodles and top with meatballs and sauce.

Question. Who else is a spaghetti twirler? Everyone thinks I am crazy for using a spoon to eat my noodles. But 1, it's fun to spin and 2, less sauce all over your face! I am a proud spaghetti spinner.

The boys however....

Spaghetti night is never clean.  There is always sauce all over the boys faces.  For some reason, it is also the night the boys forget they are not cavemen and wipe their hands on their clothes.  Someone is bound to spill their drink or "drop" their bread to the dogs.  And the dishes!  I just roll with it.

I know I joke about having to feed them every night. But to be honest, when we are sitting around the table, together and laughing, it's usually my most cherished time of the day. Good food and good company. Memories made. Talking about what our day was like and sometimes having deeper conversations far beyond their years. That is what home style cooking is all about to me. What does it mean to you?