Hello, February!

    

 Today continues the trend of our winter feeling much more like spring, what with the rainy days and clear sunshine and 60 degree weather. We have not had any snow that actually stuck this year and last year we had it by Thanksgiving. In fact, yesterday was Groundhog's Day and I'm figuring that Punxsutawney Phil was feeling like, "Are you serious? You brought me out here for this?! It's already spring." As it turns out, he did see his shadow, but I'm beginning to think that we are reading into that wrong. I am starting off the month with some planning. I finally finished assembling my desk and chair so that should make all the planning that much easier.

     I am planning a budget... Hopefully a trip to Paris (hey, it could happen!), my course work for the next 4 weeks, my meals, my blogs, my novel re-writes, my Valentine card list, something for Mardi Gras, a love song playlist, and my book, music, movie must experience lists.

     I wish I was going to Gigantour but the closest show is in Chicago and I didn't have anyone rallying me into making the road-trip. I wish they were playing a show closer. I feel like Nashville's getting skipped by everyone so far this year. I need to move.

     If I were to move right now it would be to Las Vegas. I'm thinking about it...I really am. I'm sick of the cold, I'm sick of tornadoes, I'm sick of living someplace where self-proclaimed rednecks rule the world...but most of all, I'm sick of living in a music market that artists skip whenever they play a limited tour. I can't keep flying all over the country just to see bands play, I need them to come to me...at least within a four hour drive...anyway, I'm ready to take on a grown-up town, not nested under the wing of The Church a.k.a. The Christian Right. So, I'm planning and plotting about how to make the rest of this year amazing. I will try to keep this updated. Thanks for reading.
~Ciao, K

Food For Thought From Daily Candy

The Meatball Shop's Reuben Balls Recipe

The Sandwich Reinvented

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The Meatball Shop’s Reuben Balls with Thousand Island Dressing
Makes about 30 golf ball-size meatballs

Ingredients

For dressing
1 c. mayonnaise
1/3 c. ketchup
1/3 c. sweet gherkin pickles, chopped
1/3 c. whole milk
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. caraway seeds

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

For meatballs
1 lb. corned beef, finely diced
1 lb. ground pork
1¼ c. chopped sauerkraut (squeezed to remove as much liquid as possible)
¾ lb. Swiss cheese, grated with a large box grater
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. caraway seeds
2 slices rye bread, finely diced
5 eggs
2 tbsp. olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 450°. Combine all ingredients except olive oil in a large mixing bowl and mix by hand until thoroughly blended.

2. Drizzle olive oil into a large baking dish (9 by 13 inches), coating the entire surface evenly (use your hand to spread the oil).

3. Roll the mixture into round 1½-inch meatballs, making sure to pack the meat firmly.

4. Place meatballs into the oiled baking dish so they are lined up evenly in rows and each is touching its four neighbors in the grid.

5. Roast meatballs in oven until firm and cooked through, about 22 minutes.

6. Allow meatballs to cool for 5 minutes before removing from the tray.

7. Serve with Thousand Island dressing.

The Meatball Shop, 84 Stanton Street, between Allen and Orchard Streets (212-982-8895 or themeatballshop.com).

Photo: Courtesy of The Meatball Shop

(~DailyCandy.com)