Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf

Calling all meatloaf lovers!

Meatloaf is one of those things you either love it or you hate it! Am I right? I definitely fall into the love category!

It seems like everyone has such different meatloaf recipes. Some with gravy, some with ketchup, and some with no topping at all. I have decided that there should be a new category...some topped with barbecue sauce!

This recipe is wonderful, but I was truly worried. I mean, I love meatloaf and I had gotten my hopes up for a really good dinner. I had serious doubts that my ground turkey and Sweet Baby Ray's might let me down. Add to that, I was subbing out my beloved mashed potatoes for mashed cauliflower...if all else failed I knew my peas would be good! This girl was really worried!

I was floored with how good it was! It was moist and had great flavor, it is definitely going in the recipe box as a keeper. I told Daniel I want to make it every week! I have eaten a meatloaf sandwich for the past two days at lunch...and if you remember I don't like leftovers!

Recipe

1 package ground turkey (I believe it was 19 oz.)
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon oil
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon paprika
3/4 cup oats
3/4 cup barbecue sauce, divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a skillet heat your oil. Add in your onion, red pepper, and garlic. Saute until tender.

In a large bowl add your soy sauce, Worcestershire, paprika, egg, 1/2 cup barbecue sauce, and sauteed vegetables. Crumble your ground turkey over top and mix together. Add in your oats. Place the mixture on a foil lined baking sheet and shape into a loaf.

Bake for 35 minutes. Remove and add the remaining 1/4 cup barbecue sauce over the top. Bake for 20 minutes more.

Serves 4

Stretching The "Big Meat" -Turkey Breast

This is a new series that I am really pumped about. Cooking a big meat is super frugal! If it can be so cheap...why don't we do it more often? It does take more planning, it can be a little intimidating (for me, at least), and sometimes it is more up front cost... but it is way worth it! I plan to go through every big meat I can find and show you what to do with it. First up is turkey...and it is on sale this week!

I guess I should share a brief history of my quirky relationship with meat. When I started this blog I was very scared of the "big meat". I am just not a raw meat toucher of any kind...it is just nasty! I love meatloaf, but I vividly remember my first encounter with the making of a meatloaf. I was told you just roll up your sleeves and dig in...I was mortified. I could never do that! So, for seven years now I have been mixing meatloaf with a giant spoon.

My first whole chicken!!!! My mom was sick one time and really wanted me to make some chicken noodle soup. Frightened doesn't even begin to explain the feeling I had. I circled Kroger for about an hour just to work up enough nerve to pick it up. (yes, it was wrapped and everything). I finally got the nerve...and brought the thing home. I opened it up and gloved up (yes, I *borrowed* a box of gloves from work just for meat handling) and lifted it in the pot with a heavy spatula and tongs. I couldn't touch it or stand the feel of it, even with the gloves on.

For years I have stayed away from the "big meat", but felt it was time to conquer my fear in 2010. I bought a turkey breast, ham, and a WHOLE chicken-and they were just lurking in the freezer waiting for me. I thawed out the turkey breast first...but I needed my mom for some moral support. So, she watched as I cut the package open and washed him off. I didn't even use gloves this time! I just did it...and it was so liberating! I even put my hand down under the skin to put some herbs and butter.

That was such a great feeling. I may or may not have been screaming, "I did it, come look Daniel, I have my hand in a turkey!!!!!" I figured out it is no big deal, not at all. All this time I was being so silly. I feel as if I can conquer the culinary world now...bring it on...I am ready now. Funny how something so silly can make someone feel so good! I share this to let you all know that I have a LOT to learn in the kitchen. I am a work in progress...but I enjoy the process!

Here is how I used my turkey!

Dinner 1.) Roast Turkey

Dinner 2.) Turkey Tetrazzini

Dinner 3.) Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

I didn't end up eating the turkey after roasting. I just went ahead and cut it up for future dinners. I ended up with 2 big dishes of turkey tetrazzini's, 1 turkey and biscuit dinner, and a huge crock pot full of soup (it made 1 dinner and lunch all week). I didn't make all these turkey recipes in one week. After I roasted the turkey I cut up the meat and froze it for future use. So, don't think if you make a big meat you have to eat on it all week!

I paid $7 for the turkey...you can't beat $7 for all those meals! Do you have any great turkey recipes that could be used? If so, please share them with me!

Photo Credit: www.eatturkey.com

Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

I was looking for turkey and rice soup for my leftover turkey carcass. I came across this recipe on A Year of Slow Cooking, and immediately decided this was the one to try. When I saw it had balsamic vinegar, I was sold. We love balsamic vinegar around here. It really gave the soup an amazing flavor, so don't leave it out!

This recipe did not disappoint. It is very healthy, very inexpensive, and very flavorful. It is a must try!

turkey carcass (you can substitute 2 cups cooked turkey)

8 cups of water to make broth (you can substitute 8 cups chicken broth)

1 chicken bullion cube

2/3 cup uncooked wild rice

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1 cup chopped carrots

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 cups baby spinach leaves

Get out your biggest crock pot. Place your turkey carcass in and add the 8 cups of water. You may need to break the bones to fit him in the crock pot, but mine fit fine. You can add onion or celery to season if you wish. The more meat and skin left on the carcass the better for flavor.

Cover and cook on low overnight. Now it is time to strain the broth. Put a colander inside a bigger bowl (inside the sink) and dump everything in. Pick off the meat on the carcass and add it to the broth. Now add the broth back into the crock pot.

Chop up the celery, onion, and carrot and add to the broth. Add the rice. Add the bullion cube and balsamic vinegar and stir. Add two heaping handfuls of spinach to the pot. It looks like a lot, but it shrinks quite a bit.

Cover and cook on low for 8-19 hours of on high for 4-6!

This post is linked to:
Crock Pot Wednesday @ Dining with Debbie
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday @ Blessed With Grace
Tuesday’s at the Table @ All The Small Stuff
What’s Cooking Wednesday @ Tales from the Fairy Blogmother

Leftover Turkey?

Here is one of my favorite Turkey recipes! I rarely make turkey, so I usually make the dish with chicken instead (which is equally as good ). Hope you like it!

Turkey Tetrazzini

1 box spaghetti
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups monterrey jack cheese
1 1/2 cups onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
10 ounces milk
1 small bag of sliced almonds (optional, but I highly recommend)
3 cups cooked turkey

Cook spaghetti until al dente. Saute onions. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a 9x13 pan and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

***If you don't need to feed a large family, you may want to consider using half of the recipe and baking it in an 8x8 pan. If you do that, you can put the other half in a gallon freezer bag and save for another night. When you are ready to use it: just thaw and dump into an 8x8 pan and bake!

***If you have a lot of turkey leftover you may want to make a double batch of the recipe and freeze!



Leave your favorite turkey leftover recipe in the comment section below! Don't be shy, I know you have something planned for all that extra turkey! You always hear what I cook, I would love to hear what you make!