Recipe | Spaghetti with turkey and beef meatballs

Family Features - Making small changes to focus on your health, like following a healthy eating plan, can make a big difference in protecting your heart.

Developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a flexible and balanced eating plan that helps create a heart-healthy eating style for life. It requires no special foods, and instead provides daily and weekly nutritional goals to help lower two major risk factors for heart disease: high blood pressure and high LDL (bad) cholesterol.

As an added bonus, sharing DASH-friendly meals with your loved ones can help take the guesswork out of putting nutritious dinners on your family’s table. For example, this easy and delicious Turkey and Beef Meatballs with Whole-Wheat Spaghetti recipe is one the entire family can help prepare.

In addition to a following a healthy eating plan, other self-care habits like taking time daily to destress, being more physically active and getting enough quality sleep can all benefit your heart. It’s also important to know what your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels are and what a healthy weight is for you.

Learn more about the DASH eating plan and find recipes at nhlbi.nih.gov/DASH.

Turkey and Beef Meatballs with Whole-Wheat Spaghetti
Recipe courtesy of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

• 3 quarts water
• 8 ounces dry whole-wheat spaghetti
• 2 cups chunky tomato sauce
• 4 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, rinsed, dried and chopped

Turkey Meatballs:

• 6 ounces 99% lean ground turkey
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons fat-free evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh chives, rinsed, dried and chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley, rinsed, dried and chopped

Beef Meatballs:

• 6 ounces 93% lean ground beef
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons fat-free evaporated milk
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh chives, rinsed, dried and chopped
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh parsley, rinsed, dried and chopped

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. In 4-quart saucepan over high heat, bring water to boil.
3. Add pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
4. To make turkey meatballs: In bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, evaporated milk, Parmesan cheese, chives and parsley; mix well. Measure 1 1/2 tablespoons turkey mixture and roll into ball using hands. Place meatball on nonstick baking sheet. Repeat until eight turkey meatballs are made.
5. To make beef meatballs: In separate bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, evaporated milk, Parmesan cheese, chives and parsley; mix well. Measure 1 1/2 tablespoons beef mixture and roll into ball using hands. Place meatball on nonstick baking sheet. Repeat until eight beef meatballs are made.
6. Bake meatballs 10 minutes until minimum internal temperature of 165 F is reached.
7. Warm sauce, if necessary.

To serve: Serve four meatballs with 3/4 cup pasta, 1/2 cup sauce, 1 teaspoon Parmesan cheese and 1 pinch basil per portion.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

Attention consolidated election candidates

Are you running for a seat on your village board of trustees, an open or contested spot on your school board, or a position on the county board?

The Sentinel is currently welcoming Letters to the Editor from area candidates in Urbana, St. Joseph, Tolono, Ogden, Philo, Sidney, Royal, Ivesdale, and Pesotum who are running for office in the upcoming consolidated election.

Tell us and our readers, in 1,200 words or less, which office you are running for and why. Explain what you hope to accomplish or fix during your tenure, and, of course, why you are the right person to serve them and your community. Submissions that have an axe to grind, threats, senseless tirades, or self-serving advocacy in nature will not be considered for publication.

Please include in your cover email a short note containing your name, address, and daytime/cell phone number. An editor will contact the authors for all submissions prior to publishing to verify that you submitted the letter we have received. A short biography, two sentences at most, to run at the end of your letter would be appreciated but not mandatory.

The deadline for your submission so it is published ahead of Tuesday's election is noon on Thursday, March 30. Email your Letter to the Editor submission to editor@oursentinel.com.

Does your business qualify for the ERC Federal Assistance Program?

Photo: StartupStockPhotos/Pixabay

StatePoint Media - The strength of the country relies on its estimated 33.2 million small businesses, which comprise 99.9 percent of all American businesses. COVID threatened, and in some cases forced, the closure of many small enterprises and tens of thousands are still reeling from the aftermath of the full pandemic.

In an effort to offer some relief, the federal government created the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Program under the IRS that has already helped thousands of qualifying businesses receive up to $26,000 per employee. Unfortunately, not enough small business owners are aware of the program. Others don’t think they will qualify, leaving billions of dollars on the table that could help them recover and continue to move forward.

Companies such as ERC Helpdesk, www.erchelpdesk.com, have been created to help small businesses determine their qualifications and navigate the ERC program. Now is the perfect time for business owners around the country to see if they make the cut.

A small business can receive an ERC even if it received PPP. The program is flexible enough that most businesses will likely be eligible. The average claim is $150,000, but there is no cap on the amount.

"I was the owner of a marketing business that assisted dozens of small business owners so I witnessed firsthand the challenges and sweat equity involved in taking such a big risk," said ERC Helpdesk chief marketing officer, Greg Ross-Smith. "Our founder was and remains a small business owner himself who was initially told his businesses would not qualify for an ERC and there was nobody he could find to make sense of the program. When he finally learned about the program details and what the actual qualifications are, not only did he apply and receive funds, he decided to create a way to assist other small business owners in taking advantage of the funding available for their businesses."

Here are the basics to see if you qualify:

• Your business is based in the United States.

• You retained and paid W2 employees during 2020 and 2021.

• Your business was impacted by COVID restrictions in one or more of the following ways:

1. Loss of revenue

2. Supply chain disruptions

3. Full or partial shutdown of your business

Now a growing industry, ERC companies are popping up all over so be wary about who you work with. Ideally, try to work with a company you know, or at least one that understands the needs and inner workings of a small business. Often, it helps to work with a smaller sized ERC business that’s accessible and that will work with your submission on a one-on-one basis. Bigger isn’t always better in this industry. Of course, partnering with a company that maintains a high approval rate for its clients is a critical point of measurement as many companies can waste your time and get your hopes up by simply submitting anything knowing the chances of success are slim. Finally, to the degree you can determine it, try to work with a company that will process your application as quickly as possible while focusing on reducing errors that can delay the process.

"So many small businesses are built organically with the participation, support and hard work of family and friends. As a result, we understand the investment of time, resources and relationships that go into every business we work with," said Ross-Smith. "In the ERC business, integrity, trust and customer service rule and that’s what I’d urge all applicants to consider in navigating their eligibility for the program. Our only goal is to help them qualify and then maximize their efforts and amount of compensation they receive."

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Fighting Illini battle to upset #2 OSU falls short

URBANA - Illinois tennis players Mathis Debru (left) and Oliver Okonkwo celebrate after tying up the score at 3-all in their doubles match against Ohio State's Robert Cash and Justin Boulais. Later on a beautiful but windy spring day, the Fighting Illini duo fell 6-4. The #2 nationally-ranked Buckeyes won the Big 10 match 4-0 at Atkins Tennis Center. Illinois (13-8, 1-1) looks to rise above .500 after they return from Purdue next Friday and their league match with the Boilermakers.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Rockets win softball season opener in Tennesse, and then some

JACKSON, TN - Lindy Bates went 3-for-3 in the Rockets' season opener earlier this month against Millington Central at the Sarah Beth Whitehead Tournament. Unity plated three runs in the third inning to beat the Trojans after five innings 4-2 on March 16.

Starting the bottom of the third down 2-1 on the scoreboard, Unity's Jenna Adkins went down swinging to give Millington the first out. Next, Ruby Tarr stepped up to the plate to face Trojan starter Breanna Hulsey. Tarr took her third pitch smacking leather out to center field, only to be caught by MC's Rilee Ervin.

With two outs on the board, Bates wasted no time and pounded the ball to right field, rounding first and on to second for a double. She later moved to third courtesy of a line drive from senior Reese Sarver.

With Unity bats now ignited, senior Ashlyn Miller, who scored on an error in the previous inning, knocked in the tying run on a fly ball out to left field while Sarver made her way to scoring position on third.

Then, tied at two-all, the Unity line-up kept their hands on the throttle scoring two more runs on a line drive double to right from Maegan Rothe to lock in the first win of the season.

Two days later, the Unity bats were still glowing. The Rockets amassed 27 runs across four games to finish the out-of-state tournament 3-1.

Unity bombs Peabody

The Rockets scored ten runs in the first inning of their second tournament game to stun the Golden Tide of Peabody High School, 12-0.

Ashlyn Miller and Reece Sarver booked two RBIs apiece, while Jenna Adkins, Lindy Bates, and Lauren Haas delivered one each in a contest that lasted just two and a half innings.

Jenna Adkins, Chloey Duitsman, Reagan Little, and McKayla Schendel padded their baserunning stats with one stolen bag each.

Striking out a trio of Peabody batters, Bates picked up the win, throwing just 28 pitches in the first two innings.

Adamsville falls victim to Rockets' firepower

Three hours after the start of the first game on Saturday, March 18, Jenna Adkins crushed the ball over the right field fence for a solo home run to knot the score at one-all in the first inning of the Rockets' Round of 16 game against the Cardinals.

UHS retired the next three Adamsville batters in the top of 2 before piling nine runs on the scoreboard to go up 10-1.

The Rockets enjoyed a bunted single by Maegan Rothe; doubles from Chloey Duitsman, Lindy Bates, and Ashlyn Miller; and a two-out two-RBI triple from Rothe on her second appearance in batter's box in the frame.

In the bottom of the third inning, Abbie Pieczynski, batting for Bates, tapped a ground ball to the pitcher. Tossed out at first, the senior's play allowed McKayla Schendel to score from third.

Up 11-1, Unity stretched their early season win streak to three games, outscoring opponents 27-3 after Sarver flew out to center field.

Unity suffers first loss

Camden scattered five unanswered runs across four innings against the Rockets in their tournament quarterfinal game. In a hole too deep to climb, UHS was eliminated from medal contention after a 6-4 finish.

Lindy Bates, who absorbed the pitching loss, had one hit and tallied two stolen bases. Sophia Beckett, Lauren Haas, and Ruby Tarr logged one stolen base a piece.