I love balls. And sleep.

It was a co-workers birthday today so I brought in bagels for the office yesterday. I hadn’t had my bagel of the week yet, so yesterday was bagel Friday.  Hands down the Everything Bagel is the best one to get.

Since I have bronchitis, the exercise has come to a screeching halt.  I still have about 60 miles to go in my 100 mile challenge in August.  I am hoping by Monday I’ll be able to at least do the recumbent bike.  My coughing is down to about 20% of where it was – I just feel short of breath sometimes.

I love meatballs.  My Italian husband does not.  He will eat them sliced on a pizza, but that’s about it.  I loves me a balls sandwich.  And I knew my SIL would like this too, so I made us some balls.

Chicken Meatballs

I got 24 balls out of this recipe – each ball is 40 calories, 1.7 fat, 2.1 carbs, .2 fiber and 4.13 protein.

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Throw everything in your food processor and pulse just until combined.  You don’t want to overwork your meat (that’s what she said!).   My meatballs were just smaller than a golf ball.

Heat a non-stick skillet with a touch of olive oil and lots of Pam.  Over medium high heat, sear the outside of the meatballs.  Reduce the heat, put a lid on and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the center is no longer pink.

My sandwich:  1.5 ounce kaiser roll on the bottom, 1/2 cup chopped spinach, 4 balls, 1/2 cup marinara sauce and 3/4 of mozzarella cheese.   This sandwich comes in at 441 calories, 15 fat, 45 carbs, 2.4 fiber and 28 protein.

This sammie was delicious.  Just enough heat in the meatballs with the crushed red pepper and super filling too.  Winning!

I have a really hard time having people do things for me.  I am the people pleaser so its hard for me to sit back and let someone else take over.  But last night Tony said “you don’t have to do a thing.”  He went to the store and bought a chuck roast.  He peeled and chopped carrots and potatoes and fresh garlic for our side dish.  He even cleaned the kitchen!

And it was delicious.  Most people don’t think of a chuck roast for grilling, but its spectacular.  Especially when he bastes it with garlic, rosemary butter!

The meat was so tender, you hardly even needed a steak knife.  Thanks for taking over last night honey – I appreciate it!

So last night I went to bed at 10:00.  Way to party on a Friday night!  Guess what time I woke up this morning?  9:30 a.m.  Yep, 11 1/2 hours of sleep!  I guess my body needed it! 

I still have so much to learn about my camera, and in December I will have had it for 2 years!  I stumbled across a great blog that had some tips  –  you can check it out here. 

And one of the things I love about my Sirius/XM satellite radio that’s in my car?  I am finding artists I probably never would have never come across.  Check out this guy Michael Kiwanuka – his voice is amazing! 

So while my mind has a laundry list of things I should do, I’ll probably take it easy again today (and maybe even finish my 2nd book!) and see how I feel tomorrow.  Thanks for all your well wishes!