Turkey Meatloaf with Dried Apricots

Apricots seems to bring some kind of alchemy to this meatloaf, adding moisture, texture and a delightful flavor. Ground bison or beef can be used instead of turkey.

Toss some vegetables with what I think of as “roasting oil “ (about 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil mixed with 1 tablespoon minced garlic and 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt) and place them around the meatloaf in the roasting pan/Pyrex. Some of my favorite combinations are:

  • 1 large baking potato, 1 large sweet potato cut into cubes and 2 poblano peppers (or red bell peppers) seeded and cut in similar fashion
  • About 2 cups of Brussels sprouts trimmed and cut in half, and 2 cups of diced potato (or new potatoes cut in half)
  • Large head of broccoli cut into large chunks: NOTE: add the broccoli after meatloaf has baked about 25 minutes.

Add a green salad and voila, dinner is ready.

Double the amount and freeze the extra turkey meatloaf to have later for later in the month or use leftovers for a quick dinner:

  1. Meatloaf spaghetti: chop it and warm up with 1 – 2 cups marinara sauce
  2. Shepherd’s pie: saute a chopped onion, carrot and celery, add chopped meatloaf and place in a pyrex covered with leftover Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Puree or leftover Delicious, Nutritious Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
  3. Stuffed bell peppers or zucchini: mix with leftover rice or quinoa and 1 – 2 eggs. Hollow bell peppers or cut zucchini in half, scoop out and add into meatloaf mix. Roast in oven 20 minutes at 350 degrees, add grated cheese and cook until melted.
  4. Meatloaf tacos: chop it up and serve in taco shells alongside guacamole, salsa (chopped tomato, onion and cilantro), plain Greek yogurt and grated cheese
  5. Meatloaf quiche: 2 cups chopped meatloaf, 2 eggs, 1 cup milk,1 cup pease or chopped veggies (broccoli, celery and carrots) 1/2 – 1 cup shredded cheese. I make this easy   whole-wheat crust. from 100 Days of Real Food.
Turkey Meatloaf with Dried Apricots
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Servings
6 servings
Servings
6 servings
Turkey Meatloaf with Dried Apricots
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Servings
6 servings
Servings
6 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Brush a loaf pan or roasting pan with olive oil (or 13 x 9 Pyrex).
  2. Heat remaining tablespoon olive oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion, celery, carrot and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion becomes translucent, about 8 – 10 minutes.
  3. Mix in garlic, chili powder, cumin, tumeric and 1/2 teaspoon salt (and red pepper flakes if using) and cook another 2 – 3 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, in a bowl mix oatmeal, turkey, dried apricots, parsley, eggs, teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until just combined. Add cooked onion, carrot mixture, stir until combined.
  5. Place into loaf pan, or form into a 9- by 5-inch oval loaf and place in roasting pan.
  6. Bake 45 minutes.
Recipe Notes

A Color My Food recipe

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Broiled Chicken and Artichoke Hearts

Quick, easy and delicious.

Variations:

  • Add 4 – 6 hot peppers such as jalapeño or serrano, leave them whole to broil with the chicken
  • After removing from oven add, 1/4 cup pitted black olives
  • Instead of artichokes hearts, use 2 cups coarsely sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
  • Instead of artichoke hearts, use 2 poblano peppers, pitted and coarsely sliced and 1 medium white onion, thinly sliced
  • Instead of parsley, use cilantro or mint. Or another fresh herb (reduce from 1/4 cup to 2 tablespoons) such as rosemary, thyme, oregano etc. Experiment with what you have on hand. Or even omit the herbs
Broiled Chicken and Artichoke Hearts
Print Recipe
Prep time:10 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Serves 6 - 8
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Broiled Chicken and Artichoke Hearts
Print Recipe
Prep time:10 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Serves 6 - 8
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 servings 10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat broiler
  2. Mix olive oil with minced garlic.
  3. Toss chicken with garlic/olive oil, salt, and pepper in baking dish. Broil on rack of a broiler pan in middle rack of oven for 5- 6 minutes, turn over and cook another 5 - 6 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through.
  4. Remove from oven, toss with parsley and serve.
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Sweet Potato Shepherd Pie

Because it’s tasty, hearty and nutritious, this is a regular fall dinner at our house. It can be made a day or two early for those busy weeknights.

Variations:

  • Use only with sweet potatoes or only with butternut squash.
  • Use ground turkey, beef or bison instead of turkey sausage
  • Make it spicy, adding a chopped jalapeño or two
  • Give it a Southwest twist When preparing the sausage filling, add 1 teaspoon chili 1 teaspoon paprika 1 1/2 cup corn kernels (I used defrosted frozen corn) Instead of bell pepper, use a poblano pepper
  • Make it vegan by using cooked lentils instead of turkey sausage.

It’s a great way to use leftover Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Puree after Thanksgiving. Layer it over the leftover Wild Rice, Turkey Sausage and Leek Stuffing.  If no stuffing is left, make the filling with leftover turkey instead of turkey sausage.

Serve it with Kale, Apple and Cranberry Salad with Pumpkin Seeds

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
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Servings
4 - 6 servings
Servings
4 - 6 servings
Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Print Recipe
Servings
4 - 6 servings
Servings
4 - 6 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Steam sweet potatoes and butternut squash until tender. Drain. Return to saucepan and mash with a potato masher. Add broth, mix until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish.
  3. Heat expeller-pressed canola oil in skillet over medium-high heat and cook sausage, breaking up with spoon and occasionally stirring, until it is brown (about 10 minutes). Transfer sausage to a bowl.
  4. Add onions to the same skillet and sauté, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat until onions are translucent, about 8 minutes. Add celery, garlic, cumin, coriander and red pepper flakes (if using red pepper flakes). Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix sausage back into skillet. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. Place sausage mixture into prepared baking dish. Spoon sweet potato mixture over; smooth top.
  6. Bake until it begins to brown around edges, about 45 minutes (or about 1 hour if it was refrigerated).
  7. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes

[su_original_recipe]

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Turkey Club Wrap

In general I avoid buying anything processed, but on special occasions, exceptions are made. This wrap is part of the Graduation Celebration Menu.  To honor the taste buds of our outstanding Magna Cum Laude high school graduate, I used Ranch dressing and processed meat (deli turkey).

Left to my own devices, I would use tzatziki (creamy Greek yogurt blended with cucumbers, dill, lemon and garlic) instead of the Ranch dressing.

In a 2015 report, the  World Health International Agency for Cancer Research classified processed meats (hot dogs, bacon and deli meats such as ham, salami, turkey etc) as carcinogenic. So as a food choice for me, deli meats are a once-in-a-long-while treat.

 

Turkey Club Wrap
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Servings
4 people
Servings
4 people
Turkey Club Wrap
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Servings
4 people
Servings
4 people
Ingredients
Adjust servings: people
Units:
Instructions
  1. Spread Ranch dressing (or tatziki) all over one side of the wrap.
  2. Place tomatoes down center of wrap. Place two or three avocado slices on tomatoes.
  3. Then layer turkey slices, cheese and lettuce
  4. Fold in ends of the wrap and roll up.
  5. If making these for the Graduation Celebration Luncheon, tie around the center with a chive or green onion piece
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Chicken Pesto Wrap

Goodbye sandwiches, hello chicken pesto wraps! Basil not only gives these wraps a fragrant flavor but also increases the health benefits. Basil  provides vitamin A, which contains  beta-carotenes, powerful antioxidants that protect the cells lining blood vessels, vitamin K which is essential for blood clotting. It is rich in iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, vitamin C and potassium and also has antibacterial properties.

Chicken Pesto Wrap
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Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Chicken Pesto Wrap
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Servings
4 servings
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Spread 1 – 2 tablespoons of pesto on each tortilla
  2. Place chicken in center of tortilla, top with some carrot, red bell pepper strips, and spinach.
  3. Fold in the ends and roll up lengthwise.
  4. If using for the Graduation Celebration menu, tie each wrap around the center with a chive or green onion piece like a diploma.
Recipe Notes

Source:

Weelicious: Chicken Pesto Wraps

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Roast Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary and Garlic

The simplicity of this dish makes it one of my favorite ways to prepare pork tenderloin. Rosemary has a lovely fragrance and flavor, but did you know it also has strong health benefits?

[su_expanding_quote_web source_site=”Organic Facts” source_url=”https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/rosemary.html” full_quote=”Some of the most interesting and unique health benefits of rosemary include its ability to boost memory, improve mood, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, protect the immune system, stimulate circulation, detoxify the body, protect the body from bacterial infections, prevent premature aging, and heal skin conditions.ertain types of cancer, offer protection against asthma and heart disease and delay aging and body degeneration.” short_quote=”Some of the unique health benefits of rosemary include its ability to boost memory, improve mood, reduce inflammation, “]

This pairs nicely with the Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Red Bell Pepper and Kale and Brussels Sprouts . Salad

Or serve it with Mushroom Barley Risotto and Spinach Orange Salad

Tenderloin leftovers can be stored to use later in the week, sliced thinly for sandwiches or in a Tuscan Rice Salad.

Roast Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary and Garlic
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Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Roast Pork Tenderloin with Rosemary and Garlic
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Servings Prep Time
4 10 minutes
Cook Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Finely chop garlic and rosemary. Mix in a small bowl with salt and Dijon mustard
  3. Spread all over pork tenderloin, sprinkle black pepper all over
  4. Roast in oven 40 minutes or until thermometer inserted into thickest part of loin registers 140°.
  5. Remove from oven, cover and let rest 10 minutes.
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Moroccan Tagine with Chicken and Garbanzo

Tagine is a Moroccan stew that takes its name from the earthen pot in which it is slow cooked.  Although I don’t have a tagine pot, the dish has become a regular item in both weekly family meals and entertaining menus because of the colors, the flavors and the diversity.

Tagine is traditionally a stand-alone one-dish entrée served with Moroccan bread on the side to be used as a utensil to scoop up the stew, but I like to serve tagine over couscous (whole-wheat or pearl couscous) or quinoa.

This particular recipe can be switched around a number of different ways:

  1. Make it vegan by skipping the chicken and using only the garbanzo
  2. Use lentils instead of garbanzo
  3. Use chicken only or fish or shrimp
  4. Instead of green beans I’ve used peas or (chopped) broccoli, just make sure to add in the last few minutes so they still have a crunch and are not mushy
Chicken Tagine with Chickpeas and Mint
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Chicken Tagine with Chickpeas and Mint
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Servings
4
Servings
4
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
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Instructions
  1. Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, and ginger. Cover and cook until onion is tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add paprika and next 5 ingredients; stir 1 minute.
  3. Stir in 2 cups water, garbanzo beans, tomatoes with juices, cilantro, lemon, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10 minutes.
  4. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; add to pot. Cover and simmer 30 minutes.
  5. Add carrots and more water to cover if liquid has evaporated; cook 10 minutes.
  6. Stir in green beans; simmer until chicken and vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper and more lemon juice, if desired. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with mint.
Recipe Notes

Source: Epicurious: Chick Tagine with Chickpeas and Mint

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Meatless or Not Lentil Chili

Make it vegan by leaving out the beef. It’s also an easy way to make a dinner for both omnivores and non-vegans. Cook the ground beef separately, set aside. Once the chili is cooked split it into two pots and add the cooked beef into one of the pots. I’ve made it vegan, with ground turkey, bison or beef.

It pairs wonderfully with cornbread.

Serve with Mixed Green Salad with Cranberries and Orange and dinner is complete.

My favorite cornbread is the Skillet Cornbread from 100daysofrealfood.com

Lentil Beef Chili
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Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Lentil Beef Chili
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Servings Prep Time
6 - 8 30 minutes
Cook Time
1 1/2 hour
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Heat heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until beef is brown, crumbling with fork about 5 minutes. Drain well, and put in separate dish. Cover and set aside.
  2. Heat oil in the pot over medium-high. Add onion, leeks, red bell pepper, green bell pepper and sauté until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, marjoram, oregano and basil and cook 2 -3 more minutes. Add beef, lentils, tomatoes, water, chili salt and pepper and mix in. Cover and simmer until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours.
  3. Place cheese, onion, parsley and yogurt in small bowls. Ladle lentil chili into bowls and let everyone top off their chili with cheese, onion, parsley and/or yogurt to their liking.
Recipe Notes

Modified from
Epicurious: Lentil Beef Chili

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A Healthy Twist on a French Classic

I find bison a better alternative to beef, because bison are grass-fed and industry standards don’t allow the use of hormones or routine antibiotics, which are often given as growth promoters to cattle.

Meatballs are usually associated with spaghetti sauce, but this recipe takes them to another level, rich, hearty and satisfying.

My daughter eats just about everything, but she balked at the wine sauce, so here are two options to make it child friendly:

– Omit the brandy and replace 1 cup of wine with another cup of beef broth for a total of 2 cups of broth. It tastes much lighter. Some adults might prefer it this way too.

– Reserve some of the baked meatballs and serve them to children without the sauce.

My favorite way to serve this is with rice, but is also pairs nicely with roasted potatoes, or even noodles with poppy seeds in a goulash-like style.

Bison Meatball Bourguignon
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Servings
4 - 6
Servings
4 - 6
Bison Meatball Bourguignon
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Servings
4 - 6
Servings
4 - 6
Ingredients
Meatballs
  • 3/4 cup oats old-fashioned
  • 1 1/2 pounds bison ground
  • 2 eggs large, beaten
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons parsley fresh, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons thyme optional, finely chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt kosher
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper coarsely ground
Bourguignon sauce
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. To make the meatballs, mix all the meatball ingredients—oats, ground bison, eggs, onion, parsley, salt, and pepper and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.
  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375°F. Lightly oil a metal roasting pan.
  3. Using your wet hands rinsed under cold water, shape the meat mixture into 18 equal meatballs. Arrange in the roasting pan and bake until lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes.
  4. Transfer the meatballs to a plate.
  5. Meanwhile, start the sauce. Heat canola oil and butter in large saucepan over medium heat and add the mushroom and onion. Stir occasionally, until browned, about 7–8 minutes. Stir in the carrot. Sprinkle with the flour and stir well. Stir in broth, wine, brandy, tomato paste, and thyme and bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, reduce to low heat and simmer until lightly thickened, about 10 minutes, checking periodically to make sure it does not dry. Add a couple of tablespoons of water if needed.
  6. Return the meatballs to saucepan and cook another 10–15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Serve hot, sprinkled with parsley.
Recipe Notes

Adapted from Epicurious: Beef Meatballs Bourguignon

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Chicken Breasts with Poblano Chili Sauce

Sometimes I use red or yellow bell peppers instead of the poblano peppers. For a dinner party I like to make both: half a platter with poblano pepper sauce, half a platter with yellow (or red) bell pepper sauce. It’s not only because the colors are pretty, but it gives guests the option of spice or not spicy.

Poblano Pepper Sauce

Chicken Breasts with Poblano Chili Sauce
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Servings
6 - 8 servings
Servings
6 - 8 servings
Chicken Breasts with Poblano Chili Sauce
Print Recipe
Servings
6 - 8 servings
Servings
6 - 8 servings
Ingredients
Adjust servings: servings
Units:
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat broiler. Brush the bottom of a 9 x 13 glass Pyrex dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  2. Slice the chicken breasts in half diagonally to make 12 pieces, brush them with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  3. Put the Pyrex dish in pre-heated oven and broil chicken breasts 8 - 10 minutes. Turn over each piece, and bake another 5 minutes.
  4. Take out of oven, place chicken pieces on a serving dish and spoon the poblano sauce over each piece.
  5. Place the remaining sauce in a pretty bowl with a spoon so people can add more sauce if they choose.
Recipe Notes

This dish evolved from the Cilantro-Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Poblano Chili Sauce on epicurious.com.

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