Caressing Meatballs With Amanda Hesser

Last night we had some people over and in order to avoid the whole roasted carrot thing I invited our friends Amanda Hesser and her husband Tad Friend to assure we would all eat well.

No, that’s not true. We see Amanda and Tad as often as we can and I have never asked her to cook.  But last night I decided it would be fun if we made the whole meal from Amanda’s website Food52.com..   Many of you know of Amanda from her job (which she still has) at the New York Times. And her wonderful series, that was really an early blog of sorts and was turned into the book Cooking For Mr. Latte, about her falling in love with her husband the author and  New Yorker writer Tad Friend.

But last night we were just a couple of girls in brown dresses caressing meat balls. She told me to caress them. When you watch the video you will see. Left to my own devices I tend to pummel them.

Anyway,  I made the side dishes and Amanda did the prep work for the balls.  I sort of helped and then Glenn grilled them. It was a real group effort and a lot of fun.

You can pretty much find any recipe you want on her site and I suggest checking it out.

If you want to make the meal we did  ~ it’s a great warm weather dinner and we do have a few of these evenings left.

Kefta-Style Meatballs with Grilled Grapes and Yogurt Sauce

Summer Squash Couscous with Sultanas, Pistachios and Mint

Refreshing Summer Cucumber Salad

Making the Meatballs

What every kitchen needs a meatball griller

Amanda making the yogurt sauce.

Prepping

Me mixing the couscous

Glenn grilling the eagerly awaited meatballs

The finished product. Now I'm not just saying this because it's my blog and they were made in my house or anything; But without question these were some of the best meatballs I have ever had. And I have 8 people who were here who will attest to it.

all photos by taylor templeton

http://www.food52.com/

http://www.food52.com/recipes/6207_keftastyle_meatballs_with_grilled_grapes_and_yogurt_sauce

http://www.food52.com/recipes/5425_summer_squash_couscous_with_sultanas_pistachios_and_mint

http://www.food52.com/recipes/4907_refreshing_summer_cucumber_salad

And after you’ve had a great dinner from Food52 I suggest sitting down and reading these two books.

Tad has written two books but I must confess this is my favorite. I loved it before I met him.

And for a glimpse into the lives of Amanda and Tad and just a great read I would order this today.

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