Meatballs After the First Snowfall

A comforting meal to thaw the chill of winter’s arrival.

A Winter Day in Calgary

It was the day after the first snowfall here in Calgary, Alberta. Outside our apartment window, fluffy snow covered the side roads, parked cars, and trees. Frost traced delicate patterns on the patio door glass, and the thermometer blinked a cold –11°C. It was the kind of day meant for staying indoors — the roads were slick, cars were stuck, and even the buses struggled through the slush.

Thankfully, I had no need to venture far. Though I’d just had new winter tires installed two weeks earlier, I decided not to risk driving. Instead, I bundled up and walked to the local grocery store for a few essentials — something warm, cozy, and substantial for dinner.

Preparing the Meal

Back home later that afternoon, I surveyed my kitchen: a few potatoes, some ground beef, and mushrooms waiting to be used. Perfect. Tonight’s menu would be mashed potatoes with meatballs and mushroom gravy — the kind of meal that comforts you from the inside out.

I washed and boiled the potatoes in salted water, then defrosted the ground beef I’d portioned earlier in the week. In a bowl, I mixed the beef with salt, pepper, turmeric, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano, then chilled it in the fridge for about half an hour.

Once the potatoes were ready, I mashed them with butter, cream, and a touch more salt and pepper until soft and fluffy. Then it was time to fry the meatballs — rolled by hand and browned to perfection. I placed them on a paper-towel-lined plate to drain while I started the gravy.

Mushroom Gravy

The pan drippings were perfect for flavour. I sauteed chopped onions and mushrooms until soft and fragrant, then added a slurry of flour and water. As it thickened, I stirred in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and a small pat of butter for richness. The result was a thick, savoury gravy with depth and warmth — ideal over mashed potatoes.

I plated the meal simply: mashed potatoes first, meatballs stacked on top, and a generous spoonful of mushroom gravy poured over everything. It was hearty, filling, and the kind of dish that makes you feel grateful for a warm home on a cold day.

Something Sweet

But something was missing — a sweet note to end the evening. Remembering the coconut flour in the pantry, I decided to bake peanut butter cookies. I mixed coconut flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and peanut butter into a dough, rolled it by hand, and pressed the tops with a fork. Fifteen minutes later, the cookies emerged golden and soft, with just a hint of vanilla.

We sat together in the living room, sipping black tea and sharing cookies while snow fell quietly outside. It was the perfect ending to a cold and chaotic winter day — a simple meal, a warm apartment, and good company.

🍽️ Recipe Card: Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef

• 4–5 medium potatoes

• 1 cup mushrooms, sliced

• ½ onion, chopped

• 2 tbsp flour

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• 1 tsp mustard

• 1 tbsp butter

• Spices: salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, garlic & onion powder

Instructions

1. Boil potatoes in salted water; mash with butter and cream.

2. Mix ground beef with seasonings, roll into balls, and chill 30 minutes.

3. Fry until browned; set aside.

4. In the same pan, saute onion and mushrooms; add flour slurry to thicken.

5. Stir in mustard, Worcestershire, and butter; simmer.

6. Pour gravy over meatballs and mashed potatoes to serve.

Reflections from the Kitchen

Meals don’t need to be elaborate to be memorable — sometimes, they’re just moments of comfort shared over the hum of a heater and the scent of onions and butter in the air.