Sometimes necessity really does breed invention. Such was the case with these meatballs. It started with a package of ground turkey a few days shy of its expiration date. I needed to get this turkey out of the fridge and fast so the brainstorm began. Turkey burgers? Not tonight and besides, they are so much better when grilled outside on a perfect 70 degree evening, 2 puppies playing at our feet, and with my grill master away for the night, this was not that perfect 70 degree evening. A Greek twist? Maybe another night. Spaghetti and...? Nope...not in the mood to make sauce. Our old standby with soy sauce and lime (recipe will be forthcoming)? Nah...I needed something different.
Have you ever had one of those moments where, blinded by hunger, nothing sounds good? I know it barely makes sense but it's precisely how I ended up staring into our pantry, bemused and befuddled by the litany of spices looking back at me and desperately seeking inspiration. Nearly an hour later, after sorting through and reorganizing said spices I emerged with a brand new bottle of smoked paprika, some ancho chile powder and an idea for a smoky southwest inspired meatball. So I was off to Fairway for some fresh produce and to spend an exorbitant amount of time perusing the cheese case.
The last time I got pulled into the vortex of a fresh cheese case, I discovered baked ricotta with chocolate chips. I'm finding it hard to put into words just how delightful this cheese is, not because there isn't enough to say about it, but because words simply can't do it justice. The texture is velvety and smooth like traditional ricotta, only firmer, yet not quite as firm as ricotta salata. Slightly sweet, it dances over your tongue as it warms in your mouth and the chocolate chips begin to melt, perfuming the cheese with an almost tart butteriness. It's almost as if someone solidified the filling to the most perfect cannoli - I'm sorry, cannoli shells, but your crunchy services are no longer needed. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, on my way to Fairway, my intentions to gather a few quick items for my meatball experiment and then get lost in cheese (not too difficult for me, as I'm sure you've gathered). What happened when I got there gave me pause.
