It’s Spring, right? Are you sure? I mean snow and sleet storms happen when it was just 75 degrees a few days ago, right? Wait. What is going on?
Spring was here. The sunshine was blasting. I had my sunglasses on and short sleeves. I was planning picnics in the park. I was ready to get the tomatoes outside. I was excited for walks for ice cream. I took my mittens out of my bookbag. Winter coat? No way, that was packed away.
Then Tuesday night came. We were on our way home from the last regular season home Brooklyn Nets game (note: The Knicks killed us, but who cares, we’re going to the playoffs unlike you Knicks) when suddenly it just started sleeting and snowing. We’re talking sleet that comes down and cuts you in the face. We’re talking a storm where you get home and you have to throw your clothes right in the washer because you’re soaked. We’re talking weather where there’s no way of not looking like a wet dog (note: I do not look cute like a dog does. I look like a monster). This all happened…. in Mid April!
So immediately worries set in for the garden. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Bok Choy, Lettuce, Peas, Carrots, Radishes, Kale, Onions and more were already planted. We were historically set to not go below freezing again and we were definitely set for not having snow again until Winter. Then Mother Nature had to go out and have a bad day…
There’s not much you can do to protect a garden in mid storm. Yes, you can brave the sleet while getting soaked to throw on some fabric to protect them from the freezing temperatures (which is what we did), but there comes a time where you just have to hope the plants are going to be ok and just leave them be. The wait is the worst feeling. During the next morning we ventured to the roof to find our peas in snow, with more fabric being pressed into the plants due to snow weight on top.
The kale didn’t look good. The lettuce didn’t look great. The sugar snap peas looked frozen. The onions were knocked over.. but it was too early to tell as they still needed some afternoon sun to bounce back.
One thing was certain though, the kale had to be picked. If you guys remember, this kale was planted last Summer (!) and it somehow survived Winter (!) so in terms of how long it’s been planted, it was a real true survivor. I was a bit bummed that this freak storm was the one to finally destroy it, but time was not on it’s side.
So with my winter coat on with a somber heart (I’m so dramatic, I know) I picked all 6 kale plants. These kale plants really grew fantastically and even though they were destroyed by the weather, it was close to time to pick them anyways as they were starting to flower. I got pounds of kale off these plants and my entire bottom shelf of the refrigerator is now full of kale.
But first I had to take a dramatic photo of me with my baby kale and title it “Kale Mother” to post on Instagram. I love my friend Avery’s comment: PAMALEESI: MOTHER OF KALES
How did the other plants do after they thawed out? We think everything is ok. A few leaves got burned by the frost, but the lettuce bounced back beautifully and the peas are still standing tall (alongside the onions). Let’s take a collective sigh of relief as it could have been a real disaster with months of seedling planning ruined. I guess we had a little luck saved!
So now with a ton of kale.. what are we going to do? I wanted to make something right away so I could use up a few full cups of kale, as I get a little stressed with too much kale! We love our kale turkey meatballs, especially on a hoagie, so I decided to make a double batch and put a spin on this recipe with mixing the meats. This was the perfect solution because I got 1 dinner that night out of it, and 2-3 extra dinners to freeze. Lately we’ve been craving meatballs with pasta but we’re too lazy to make them when hunger hits, so now they’re all ready to be eaten (after being defrosted!)
So let’s make some meatballs! First the kale was picked. But first I had to weigh in. This year I’m going to keep track of how much we grow to see. I’ve been telling myself to do this every year but this year I’m going to do it! (I hope..)
In my other meatballs recipe I usually pan fry them but I didn’t feel like babysitting them so I decided to bake them instead. I loaded 2 cookie sheets full of meatballs!
These meatballs turned out beautifully! They were crisp on the outside, moist in the inside and full of flavor. These might be some of the best meatballs I ever made so I was happy to see them made alongside our garden kale. Having a bit of homegrown in every meal always makes it better, right? Also these are going to make your home smell great. When someone walked in our front door about 2 hours after baking they said “It smells so good in here!”. It totally did.
To freeze them, I separate them into meals and put in a freezer bag. When it’s time to enjoy them, I’ll let them sit out for a bit to defrost, then warm them up to eat, or throw in a pot to cook alongside the pasta sauce.
Ingredients
- 4 cups uncooked chopped fresh kale
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 pinches each of dried rosemary parsley and oregano
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil to a pan over medium high heat. Add kale and spices. Cook until your kale is wilted.
- Put kale mixture and garlic into a food processor and chop it up. Add your turkey and egg and pulse until it's combined. Depending on food processor size you might have to do 2 batches.
- Form this mixture into 1-2 inch balls.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line 2 cookie sheets with aluminum foil and spray with nonstick spray.
- Put meatballs on foil and cook 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees.
- Enjoy right away, or freeze for later.
Notes
How’s the weather where you are? Is it finally Spring?
Sophie says
I made your tasty special meatballs too & loved them so much. My belly was singing too.
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Aww! I’m so sorry your garden got frozen, but it sounds like everything will be ok! I love the photo of you with your baby kale. 🙂
I cannot wait to eat these meatballs. We have a favorite meatball, but I bet it doesn’t hold a candle to those! And 4 cups of kale in there?!?! Amazing!! Love getting extra veggies in where you least expect it! Awesome recipe!
Janet says
I’m growing kale as well. Neat!
Mary Frances @ The Sweet {Tooth} Life says
I saw this title and literally, my jaw dropped. I cannot think of a better use for kale! I love meatballs! Pinning this one! I hope you get sunshine back … I was done with snow a couple months ago! 🙂
Kelly says
Yikes, it snowed here too – I’m so sorry about your plants but glad that most of them seem okay – hopefully that is the last we see of winter. These kale meatballs are so creative – I am such a big fan of kale and love the idea of sneaking veggies – they sound delicious!
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says
Your kale meatballs looked so cute when you were babysitting them, Kale mother! Ha ha…loved reading your interesting post and these baked wonders sound delicious!
Sophie says
Too bad to hear about that storm & that terribly bad weather,…who would have guessed that?
You made wonderful tasty kale meatballls,..ooh yeahhh! They look freaking delicious too! You look indeed like PAMALEESI: MOTHER OF KALES ! ha! 🙂 xx
ela@GrayApron says
Not bad, not bad at all…to put all the kale in the meatballs! 🙂 ela
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
This weather has indeed been insane! Last Tuesday was no joke! While we didnt get snow or hail, we did have temps below freezing and I did end up covering all my plants too.
Now to these meatballs – love how you sneaked in kale – I bet they tasted super!
Cailee says
Oh man!! These kale meatballs look so delicious and crispy on the outside! YUM!!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
Gorgeous bunch of kale and I love that you made them into meatballs. What a great idea! Happy Easter!!!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
So glad most of your plants made it through the storm okay! And so clever using kale in meatballs!! They look great!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
Yeah the weather is crazy! It has been feeling like summer here for like two weeks and nw we’re back to cloudy, rainy days and it sucks so so much :'(
That kale looks glorious! And so do the meatballs – I want them for dinner pleeeaase!
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
Oh my, there is still snow in your part of the globe? It’s smoking hot in ours! Thanks for dropping by my blog and leading me to yours. Those kale meatballs look tasty and versatile!
Debra says
Yep, our alleged last frost date is April 15. Guess what happened on April 14? 27 degrees. But, it was definitely beautiful today. And, I still have not planted any kale. Almost too late now.
cheri says
Can’t believe the weather you guys are having, were burning up here in AZ. Anyway, these kale meatballs looks delicious, how clever!
Monica says
I could not believe when we woke up the other morning with snow on the ground! It’s mind-blowing but I’m enjoying the sunshine right now. This kale meatball really looks out-of-this-world! Satisfying and good for you = perfect combo.
yummychunklet says
Intriguing idea to put kale in meatballs! They sound pretty tasty.
Suzanne says
That snow really was a bummer, killed my basil seedlings totally out of the blue. Love the meatballs!
Tracy | Pale Yellow says
The snow this week totally cramped my style, warm weather come back! PAMALEESI: MOTHER OF KALES – love it!!
Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says
Not your garden!!! I am so over this weather. It needs to make up it’s damn mind already.
Your kale meatballs look amazing! The perfect twist on a familiar favorite to make it feel like it’s almost Spring!
Cecile @ My Yellow Farmhouse says
I got back Thursday from what I’m calling My Big Trip. (I ended up doing 4,000 miles!!) When I left – March 21st – it was cold and when I got back to Massachusetts, it had turned cold again. I’m wondering if it’s MY fault!!
I can’t wait to make these meatballs as I, too, have been ‘hankerin’ for meatballs and spaghetti.
I’m glad your crops sprung back. No one understands the heartache unless they’ve raised veggies themselves. Just like babies, they’re a lot of work but there’s joy every step of the way!!
Pamela says
The perfect way to describe it Cecile, they really are your babies!
Joanne says
I don’t know WHAT is up with this weather, but hopefully this weekend will cheer all your plants up!!
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Love that you can just bake these meatballs, Pamela, and they still turn out crispy.
Glad that your garden survived the snow. I can’t imagine having to worry about something like that!
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
Yummy bites! I am showing this recipe to my mum now, she loves it!
Pamela says
Hi Mom!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
O my..snow and ice….that’s just so unreal in April.
Those kale meatballs look great!
Misti says
Sorry about the freak winter storm. The kale recipe sounds delicious! My kale hasn’t bolted yet but every other green out there seems to be.
tinywhitecottage says
Darn weather…. but look at those meatballs! Great method cooking them in the oven. It can be a bit daunting standing over the stove (especially for that many) and turning them all the while getting a little spattered with oil. 🙂 Lovely post and hope the sun start shining on your garden!