I feel sorry for the person who pulls up next to me in their car to find a complete basketcase idling next to them. What do you do if you ever see the person in the car next to you crying? I was thinking about what I must look like to the lucky winner…

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I have been a total rollercoaster of emotions these past few days. {Thank God I have my essential healing oils so I can sniff the guts out of my lavender and wild orange oils to calm me down–Thank you again, Somer!! xo} The emotional ebb and flow of life as of late has been enough to keep me locked into my room.  I, however, have been intentional with facing what I am feeling, so locking myself down is completely not an option. But still, at times I wish nothing but to feel distracted…

People have been telling me how brave I am and how it takes a courageous person to make the decisions that I have been making but brave sometimes feels like the last thing that I am. Lost is more like it. Broken rings a little more true to my soul. Bear with me–I am just unable to see through the fog right now despite all of the good things going on in my life. In moments like these, it’s hard to see when the sadness can be blinding.

As much as I enjoy baking, cooking really is my first love. In fact, when I started up Fork and Beans, that is all I mainly focused on. Today just feels like the perfect time to reconnect with something that I love so very much as a means to soothe and comfort me. And meatball sub sandwiches can be quite the comfort food…

Tempeh Meatballs Recipe

Makes 10 meatballs

Gluten, egg and dairy free

  • 1 package tempeh, steamed for 10 minutes to soften
  • 3/4 c. gluten-free breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 c. onion, thinly chopped
  • 1 Tb flaxseed meal + 3 Tbs warm water
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 Tb worcestershire sauce (gluten-free)
  • 2 Tb fresh basil, thinly chopped
  • 1 Tb fresh parsley, thinly chopped
  • 1/2 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
  • 1/2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 jar of favorite spaghetti sauce

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet on medium heat.
  2. In a food processor, mix all the ingredients together with the exception of spaghetti sauce and 1/4 c. of the breadcrumbs.
  3. Form into 1 1/2″ balls. Roll into remainder breadcrumbs until fully coated.
  4. Fry on skillet until browned on all sides. Do in batches if needed.
  5. Low heat and allow to cool down a little and then pour the jar of spaghetti sauce into the skillet full of all 10 meatballs. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
  6. Plop 3 meatballs onto a roll*, coat with nondairy cheese and broil until browned.

*Sandwich Roll Recipe

Makes 4 rolls

Gluten, egg and dairy free

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 packet active yeast
  • 1 1/2 c. water (110 degrees)
  • 2 Tb sugar
  • 3 Tbs olive oil
  • 2 tsp vinegar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 c. superfine brown rice flour
  • 1 c. oat flour
  • 3/4 c. potato starch
  • 3/4 c. arrowroot powder
  • 3 tsp xanthan gum

DIRECTIONS

  1. Proof yeast in warm water and sugar for 10 minutes (You want your yeast to be frothy by the end of the 10 minutes–it not, start over).
  2. Mix oil, salt, vinegar into a medium bowl and add proofed yeast and whisk until combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine flours, starch, arrowroot powder and xanthan gum.
  4. Add flour into wet mixture 1/2 c. at a time until the dough is a little sticky, but enough to manage (you might not need all of your flour mix).
  5. Cover and allow dough to sit for 1 hour.
  6. Form into 4 sandwich rolls (6-7″ each). Use starch on your hands if it is too sticky to manage. Place on a baking sheet, cover, and allow to sit another 30-45 minutes.
  7. Place a baking stone (or baking sheet) along with a small pan (on the rack underneathe the baking stone) big enough to hold 1/2 c. ice cubes in oven Preheat to 400 degrees.
  8. Once heated up, place the ice cubes in the small pan and transfer the dough onto the baking stone.
  9. Bake 20 minutes or until golden on the crust. Remove and allow to cool on stone of sheet.

I know that things will be okay–I know that despite how much this hurts, this too shall pass. I just need space to be honest and be true to how I am currently feeling.  Thank you, friends, for listening…

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