bobbibrinkmanphotography.com » St. Louis Wedding and Portrait photography

Some Mondays are definitely harder than others! If you were out last weekend with thousands of your closest friends celebrating the second largest Mardi Gras in the country then your Monday might be a little rougher than most!

We avoided the festivities altogether, Bobbi worked on  some beautiful album designs on her end of things and I worked on knitting a sweater.  I’m pretty sure the entire gang enjoyed Hockey Day in America despite the loss from the Note. While that may sound terribly boring, it was just what the doctor ordered!

If you’re having a blah day, maybe a spicy sandwich will put some spring in your step!

Blue Monday Dinner: Spicy Turkey Meatball Hoagie\ aka hoagie vs. sub

• 1 pound ground turkey (with 1 tbs. minced garlic, 1/4 cup minced onion, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 2 tbs. worcestershire sauce)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs
• 1 tbs. water

***

• 4 tbs. chopped, canned chipotle chilies
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (more if you would rather have it sweeter than spicier)
• 2 tbs. mustard
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 tbs. minced garlic
• 1 small chopped onion
• 1/2 cup water or stock
• parmesan cheese (lots is always better)
• 4 tbs butter
• 1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
• 4 split (toasted if you like) hoagie buns

In a little oil on medium heat get the onions going. When they’ve softened and are just beginning to brown add the chopped garlic and stir for a minute. Add the chipotle chilis, tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar and mustard. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about a half hour or so, don’t let it get too dry, think ‘saucey’. Adjust the ‘heat’.

While the sauce is cooking  mix the ground turkey with the onions, garlic, cayenne and worcestershire— add an egg and the breadcrumbs and mix gently. Make meatballs as large as you like for your sandwich. Preheat your broiler and broil under high on both sides until browned. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until the meatballs are done.

Roll the meatballs through the sauce—- adjust the spicy level/heat for your taste—– toast the buttered buns and pile on the meatballs. I like to add a crispy topping made from breadcrumbs, melted butter and parmesan. Make the hoagie, add some of the breadcrumbs and run under the broiler for a minute—– some people like to add cheese slices. The finishing touch is what you feel like!

Spicy, good, easy.  Hair of the dog for your dinner table!

Have a great week! We have lots of new wedding family to welcome this week so come back!