Especially loved around the holidays.
Every year right around this time I open my gmail, click on the search box, and enter “spinach balls”. Tried and trusted right at the top is the recipe for my favorite holiday appetizer, spinach balls. The date reads November 27th, 2013 on the email sent from “my second mother” and dear family friend, Lizzy, with a quick note “Happy Thanksgiving!”.
I think over the countless number of years that my family has been best family friends with Liz and her clan, we have enjoyed these spinach balls at least twice a year. They’re always a hit. The perfect mix of spinach, onions, cheese, and stuffing (plus more, see below) rounds out into a delicious tasting “pop in your mouth” app. You can even convince yourself that they’re pretty healthy (though Margot, Liz’s daughter and one of my best friends, though we prefer “sisters”, the family dietician, might disagree?) making them guilt free when you pop 3 in your mouth in one evening.
But for me, the best part is…you can make them ahead and freeze them! There is nothing better than getting one of your recipes out of the way before the holiday arrives. I love doing this because it allows you to spend more time being present with your loved ones instead of in the kitchen cooking. Unlike some recipes, these taste just as good when you pop them out of the freezer and onto a tray for a quick reheat in the microwave.
Food nostalgia is without a doubt my favorite kind. When I go to serve these, I’m immediately transported back to Duxbury with Liz and Henry hosting, Liz grabbing them from the freezer and carefully placing them on a platter before zapping them in the microwave. I was usually floating somewhere between the kitchen and the living room. There would be music coming from either the piano (Jeff playing and leading singalongs with Enid) or holiday tunes softly playing on the speakers, laughter roaring (likely from MB and Lizzy), and catching up conversations amongst all of us “kids”.
I could go on and on about how much I love our time with Liz and her family and how I’ll never eat a spinach ball without smiling thinking about our holidays and celebrations together, but this is meant to be a recipe, not a long story.
So here it is, copy and pasted directly from that 2013 email. Now I won’t have to rely on that annual search of my gmail.
Spinach Balls:
2 (10 oz.) pkgs. frozen spinach, cooked and drained. (I put it in a strainer and press with
paper towels to get most of the water out.)
4 beaten eggs
2 c. Pepperidge Farm Herb Stuffing Mix
1 med. onion, chopped
1/2 shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/2 c. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. thyme
Dash of garlic salt
Salt to taste
Mix all ingredients together. Then I usually put it in the refrigerator for a bit. Roll into
balls and put on ungreased cookie sheet. I like to use parchment paper so they don’t
stick, but it’s not really necessary.. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remember,
they can be frozen.
Simple as that! I hope folks will make these with the same smile on their face and warmth in their heart that I know I have each holiday I prepare these. Thanks Lizzy for this recipe and for the sweet memories.
Lastly, here’s a picture of the last time I documented these. It was Thanksgiving 2020 during the pandemic when I was looking for a little familiarity (ahhh food nostalgia) and found just that in yet again, this tried and trusted recipe.
