Kafta-style meatball salad with yogurt tahini dressing

Yesterday I was able to leave the office a little earlier than usual so I decided to do something I hate almost as much as filing my papers: buying a bathing suit. A one-piece bathing suit.

Let me recreate the scenario, just so you can cringe a little. Because I know you've been there.

When: beginning of sales.
Where: a department store, Ladies' lingerie & beachwear section.
Who: myself and a million other ladies.

A few notes:

- I live in a country where the average woman is petite and has a good figure

- I live in a country where women often have beautiful olive skin
- I am a pale, freckly blonde
- I live in a country where thongs and Brazilian bikinis reign

- I want the '80's back, when one-piece bathing suits were cool (and when I looked great in a bikini so it didn't matter)

- I have had two children in the past 5 years

- I ain't getting any younger

- My bikini top and bottom are completely different sizes (and no, not in the good way i.e. larger on top, smaller on bottom)

 - No bathing suit looks flattering with your underwear sticking out of it.

A few questions:

- Why is there neon lighting in changing rooms?

- Why are the best mirrors just outside the changing room?

- Why do most changing rooms have flimsy curtains instead of doors?

- Why does the old bag in the changing room next to mine force her embarassed husband to go with her?

- Why does he have to stand right between changing rooms, exactly where the flimsy curtain doesn't reach?

- Why, o why do bathing suits never look as good on my rack as they do on the sales rack?

I actually made it out with two nice one piece bathing suits (I'm telling you, no one buys them anymore) and this time the changing room actually had doors. So I'm not complaining. But after seeing each and every shadow cast on my thighs (where there shouldn't be any shadows) by the neon lighting, I am increasing my running schedule and having more of this for lunch.

As you can see all the way down below, the kids loved it. My son was partial to the yogurt sauce while my daughter devoured at least 15 meatballs. They were also a great help making the meatballs.

Child labor

Kafta recipe loosely adapted from Joumana's.

Ingredients

Kafta (about 60 small meatballs)

2 pounds (about 1kg) ground beef and veal

1 large chopped yellow onion

a large handful of chopped flat parsley

1tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp of paprika

1 tsp of sumac

salt

pepper

lime

Yogurt sauce

200gr Greek yogurt

1 tbsp tahini

2 tbsp lime juice

roasted garlic

salt

Salad

Mixed salad greens

tomatoes 

olive oil

salt

Chop the onion and put in a sieve with sumac and salt and let drain for at least 20 minutes. In the meantime, chop the parsley and mix the other spices. Drizzle some oil in a pan and fry the onions in it until soft and then put the meat, spices, cooled onions and parsley in a bowl and mix. I do not own a food processor or I would have followed Joumana's tip on this for the unique texture.

Heat the oven to 400F/200°C. Line a baking tray and make small meatballs. Bake until the meat is cooked and it starts browning. While the meatballs are baking, assemble your sauce. Mix the yogurt with a tablespoon of tahini, a good sprinkle of dry roasted garlic (or fresh roasted garlic smashed with a fork would be even better), the lime juice and a sprinkle of salt. Add some water if the dressing is too thick. When you pull the meatballs out of the oven, sprinkle with some salt and lime juice.
Chop up some tomatoes on individual plates with some mixed salad greens, after lightly dressing them with olive oil and a touch of salt. When the meatballs have cooled, add them on top of the salad and drizzle with the yogurt tahini dressing.

I read this post today, and it made me think about how priviledged I am to spend this carefree time with my kids, cooking with my them and taking cute pictures of their yogurt-covered faces. I am thankful every day for what I have and hope to help those who aren't as fortunate in my own very small way by posting this link.