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Saucy One-Pot Spaghetti & Italian Sausage Meatballs

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Saucy One-Pot Spaghetti and Italian Sausage Meatballs || HeathersDish.com
At times I worry about our children – will they ever grow up with the same simple memories that we have? Will they ever think back with fondness on the small events, like getting a new basketball goal, learning how to skip a rock, making a great catch or even just seeing a picture hung up on the fridge?

Will those things even matter?

I think they will – because I think they DO. They matter and so Nate and I have made a decision to instill in our children an appreciation for the simple and meaningful things in life, and one of those things is enjoying dinner around the table as a family.
Saucy One-Pot Spaghetti and Italian Sausage Meatballs || HeathersDish.com
When I was growing up it was extremely rare that we would not have dinner together – all four of us – every single night. Mom or Dad would cook dinner, my sister and I would set the table, and then we would pray and eat together. The news was always on softly in the background, but we would always have a full-blown conversation about our days. Even though I am an athletic person, sports never interested me until middle school, and I can still remember the day that I told my parents I had signed up for Competitive Athletics (volleyball, basketball, track) while we sat together eating home-cooked fried rice. They beamed with pride because it had been MY decision.

I remember the day my sister got in trouble for starting a food fight in elementary school and how I secretly was cracking up inside because really, it takes some creative genius to pull an event like that together. Sure, she was in trouble and I was glad I wasn’t, but I kind of admired her for it.

I remember the time I told my parents I was going on my first date and how awkward it was, even though I knew they needed to know. Sixteen’s a hard age, but I am so thankful that we had that safe haven of a dinner table to share those little bits of life at.

This life is short, and if there’s anything I’ve come to know it’s that the little things matter. They matter a lot – and if anyone is going to instill those sweet memories in our children then it’s going to be US. It’s going to take initiative and creativity to make meals around the table happen, and so that’s why Nate and I are working on this list of ways to make meal time happen, even when it’s hard:

  1. Meal prep, meal prep, meal prep. I often shake my head at the fact that anything gets done because it never feels like there are enough hours in the day. I’ve found that taking 2 hours or so on a weekend to chop veggies, cook rice, portion out proteins, etc. helps so much in getting dinner ready in a reasonable timeframe, especially with a toddler.
  2. Make one-pot meals. So easy to make, so easy to clean up, and they’re almost always fantastic. I think you guys will LOVE this recipe at the bottom of the post!
  3. It doesn’t always have to be dinner. Sometimes Nate has to work late, or we have a play date, or something else comes up. When we can plan for it we will always try to have breakfast all together, or an after dinner snack. It’s the togetherness that’s important!
  4. Cleaning is just as important. After every meal we try to clear the table together. Sometimes that means having Wes carry his plate to the sink, or push the chair back in. Small things now, but one day we want him to know that clearing that space is part of meal time and builds teamwork.
  5. Cooking together is fun too! A huge part of my passion for good, simple food comes from cooking with my parents. From cutting olives to frying chicken, building a salad to baking a cake we were always in the kitchen helping. It helped me see what food was all about, what serving really looked like, and that hard work paid off deliciously in the end!

I love when companies push the same values I hold dear, and GE Appliances does just that with their Weeknight Kitchen campaign. The need to for all of us to gather with people we love throughout the week is huge, and such a great way to build memories and reinforce relationships. The good food and easy cleanup is just a great way to support that! Here are some of the fantastic GE Appliances that help do just that:

  • Hand-Free Auto Fill Refrigerator with an industry first hands-free auto fill actually fills water glasses automatically, which is so great for when you need to multitask.
  • Double Oven Range with Tri Ring Burner helps control heat so that whether you need a super-high sear or a slow simmer, you can control the outcome of your amazing meal.
  • Dishwasher with 102 jet wash system because even though cleanup promotes teamwork, we all know that it’s more fun to only wash one time.

Saucy One-Pot Spaghetti and Italian Sausage Meatballs || HeathersDish.com
Saucy One-Pot Spaghetti with Italian Sausage Meatballs

  • 1 pound mild Italian sausage
  • 1 pound spaghetti
  • 3 cups marinara sauce; my favorite is my super-simple crockpot version
  • 4 cups water, divided
  • Parmesan cheese for garnish, optional

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot. While the pot is heating, break the Italian sausage up into tablespoon-sized portions and roll into balls. Place the Italian sausage meatballs into the hot oil and brown on all sides, about 1-2 minutes per side. Add the marinara and water, stir to combine. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the spaghetti. Stirring frequently, boil the spaghetti in the sauce until al dente. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 3-5 minutes, then serve hot with lots of Parmesan cheese if desired!

Weeknight dinners should be quick and easy for any busy family. GE Appliances can help streamline the kitchen process with their hands-free auto-fill refrigerator, their double oven range, to their 102 jet wash system dishwasher. To see these appliances in action check out GE: Kitchen Reimagined. For more tips on weeknight dinners head over to FoodNetwork Weeknight Kitchen page for recipes, tips, and much more!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of GE Appliances. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! 

As we move into goal setting for the new year, may I suggest starting with your physical health? Not to fit the bikini body mold that society normalizes, but to actually BE as healthy as possible. When everything hit the fan for me this year I dug into two things that have been integral to creating positive growth and a healthier mindset: 

1️⃣ my relationship with God
2️⃣ my physical health

What that’s looked like for me on the health front: holding fast to my commitment to whole food nutrition, grace for the days when I choose otherwise, pushing myself to lift heavier in workouts, and taking up running again. 

What’s happened as a result? When I push myself physically, when I choose to practice discipline to do what I know is best for my body, it makes it infinitely easier to choose that same healthy discipline in every other area of life. You want to dominate your goals? Start with your health!
Remember when I blogged about food? 😂 Gosh the Remember when I blogged about  food? 😂 Gosh the past few months have been nuts. I’m still over here figuring out how to eat well without sacrificing my life in the kitchen, and this is a bowl I couldn’t NOT share with y’all. The best thing is that everything is almost always on hand in my fridge, it’s packed with nutrition, and tastes AMAZING!

In the bowl:
-rice mixed with Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce
-broiled shredded Brussels sprouts
-chickpeas
-baby  arugula
-grilled chicken breast
-Romesco sauce (from Trader  Joe’s but I usually make my own)
-a little  tzaziki sauce

This meal has been on repeat all week, only changing the rice for riced cauliflower and omitting the chickpeas on low carb days. YUM! I find that if I have a variety of roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and a few different sauces on hand I can almost always come up with a great bowl for almost any meal!
It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday y’all! Almost 4 years ago I took a leap of faith and said yes to this job in an effort to create another stream of revenue. I had NO CLUE that it would change my life for the better in almost every way, that it would reignite my passion for health and community, that it would provide in so many beautiful ways. But it has, and I am so thankful to all of you who have trusted me and supported me along the way. 

When you shop with a small business you are literally a hero in their eyes, validating and supporting and protecting them. You guys are my heroes, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 

#smallbusinesssaturday #happydance
Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t feel it, these are truths that I’m holding for you. ❤️
3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day: 3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day:

1️⃣ SMILE! Even if you don’t feel like it, smiling (even forcing it to the point of feeling weird) has actually been scientifically proven to improve mood, lower stress, and boost your immune system. I actually recommend doing it awkwardly around other people because it’ll make them smile too 😉

2️⃣ GRATITUDE! Right now, before you talk yourself out of it, say or write 3 things you’re thankful for. Big, small, or in between. In this moment I’m going to say sticky notes, my Le Creuset Dutch Oven, and the Hamilton soundtrack. BOOM!

3️⃣MOVE! Get up off your tush, right now, and move your body. Walk around your house, do some jumping jacks, lock yourself in the bathroom and do a little dance, whatever. This isn’t about looking cool, it’s about giving yourself a better day. 

Things are hard, ambiguity and uncertainty isn’t fun, but we can control ONE THING: ourselves. Praying that you choose to gift yourself a little bit of happiness today! 

Now, tell me below, what’s one thing you’re thankful for RIGHT NOW?
HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog 😂 Who else feels me here? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #dogdays #2020mood
Praying for our country today and ever grateful fo Praying for our country today and ever grateful for the freedom we have to create the world we want. Friend, no matter what happens you are loved and welcome here. If there is anything you need prayer over I’m only a DM away.
#vote
Shout out to all the parents just trying to make t Shout out to all the parents just trying to make the best decisions possible. You’re doing hard things, and you’re doing a good job. Now about to go read this caption while I look in the mirror...
Goal for this weekend: get my sleep score waaaaaaa Goal for this weekend: get my sleep score waaaaaaaaaaaay up 💤 Rest this week has been hard to come by, and I can see it in the way I feel, my energy levels, and in the fact that my cravings are way out of whack! Fingers crossed the cozy, rainy days we have forecasted will help (and do the same for the kiddos too)!
#sleepscore #restisbest #fitbitversalite #fitbitsleep #littlerockblogger
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