There has probably never been a time in history when people around the world have depended on being home more than they do right now. It’s never been clearer how much our homes matter. Home has never meant so much to us in so many different ways.
Home is now where we live, work, eat, sleep, exercise, relax, stress out, and play. Living rooms have become classrooms, exercise studios, and virtual meeting rooms. Kitchens have become restaurants serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day and way too many snacks in between. Some bedrooms have become hospital quarantine rooms where we care for the sick while trying not to get sick ourselves.
Home is where we shelter in place to keep our families safe and keep our communities healthy. Staying in our homes is literally saving people’s lives.
Our Homes Have Become Everything to Us
In my home, my kitchen has been my absolute sanctuary. I recently was lucky enough to have remodeled my kitchen. I am so grateful for this, especially in this time of quarantine. I love to cook, and I love to feed my family home-cooked meals. It’s a gift that warms my heart and makes me feel connected to my past and present. I lost my parents in my 20s but the vivid memory that remains a constant is the family meals I had every single night growing up. My Mom had a very small kitchen, but it never inhibited her from cooking. Every night we waited for my Dad to come off the Long Island Railroad at 7 pm and he walked into the door at 7:20 pm with a homecooked meal on the table.
When I got married, I was able to follow in my Mom’s footsteps using some of her and my Grandmother’s handwritten recipes (I still have those today). Having raised three children with busy schedules, the one constant was family time at dinner and family holidays. I also host “Monday Night Millennial Dinner”, a tradition I created 4 years ago when my son came back to LA from college, hosting all his friends and co-workers for a homecooked meal on Monday nights.
I want to share with you a favorite recipe from my home, Sweet and Sour Meatballs created by my Mom and passed down to many kitchens since. It’s super easy, comfort-food, and a total family pleaser. Enjoy!
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Can be made with either ground beef or turkey meat (mix dark & light if using turkey).
Serves 4 People.
Meatballs
Mix all ingredients together for the meatballs.
Sauce
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2 Jars Marinara Sauce.
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2 Cans of Whole berry Cranberry Sauce.
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Mix in a pot on the stovetop.
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Add meatballs to the sauce.
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Cover and cook for 1 hour on a low flame.
Serve over any pasta (especially egg noodles - family tradition), rice, or cauliflower rice.
Stay healthy. Stay safe. Stay home.
With warmth and love,
Nancy
