Turkey Loaf

A delicious yet healthy version of meatloaf made with ground turkey.  Could also be made with lean ground beef. Serves 8.

• 2 1/2 pounds (40 oz.) ground turkey
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 large eggs *
• 1-2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 cup applesauce (unsweetened) **
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup dry unseasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese ***
• 2 cups spaghetti sauce

Mix all ingredients EXCEPT the spaghetti sauce together.  Clean hands work best for this.  Press into a greased 9" x 13" pan/dish. (You can form this into several loaves, but I find that it is quicker and easier to just place into dish and cut like a cake to serve.)  Pour sauce over top.  Place in a 350 degree oven for 60 minutes.

*To lower the fat in this recipe you can substitute 4 large eggs for the 2 whole eggs.
**When I am out of applesauce I have substituted ketchup, baby food, or cooked and pureed vegetables.
***May be eliminated if trying to keep this dairy-free.

Original recipe here.

Chicken Feta Pizza

This is a very yummy non-traditional pizza.

• Pizza crust of choice (I make homemade)
• Canned tomato sauce
• Garlic salt
• Cooked chicken, diced or shredded (leftover, canned, etc.)
• Feta cheese
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Herbs of choice (Herbs de Provence, oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme...)

Form pizza crust.
Spread very thin layer of tomato sauce on crust.
Sprinkle with garlic salt.
Top with chicken, feta and red onion.
Sprinkle with herbs.
Bake at 450 F for about 12 minutes.

Create-A-Enchilada

Formula for making any kind of homemade enchiladas,  Great way to use up leftovers or scrounge from you pantry.

The components:

1. Filling
2. Wrapper
3. Sauce
4. Cheese

Filling Ideas:

• Cooked Meat:  chicken, ground beef, shredded beef or pork.  You can cook with taco seasoning.
• Beans - any type of cooked beans will work
• Vegetables:  whatever you like, but they should be lightly cooked

Wrappers:

• Flour or corn tortillas

Sauce:

• Enchilada sauce - canned or homemade
• Salsa
• Tomato sauce seasoned with chili powder or taco seasoning.
• Salsa + sour cream
• Salsa + sour cream + canned cream soup

Shredded Cheese:

• Any kind you like or have on hand in copious amounts.  Good choices are Cheddar, Colby, Monterrey jack, Colby jack, Mexican blend.

ASSEMBLING:

1. Place the filling in the center of the wrapper, top with a bit of sauce and shredded cheese.
2. Roll up and place in a rectangular casserole dish that you have either greased or lightly covered the bottom with sauce.
3. Cover enchiladas with plenty of sauce and shredded cheese.  Do not leave any tortilla dry.  Garnish with green onions if desired.
4. Bake in a 350 degree oven until hot and bubbly.  (approx 45 minutes)
5. These can be frozen in the pan before or after baking.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

This is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken.  These are a great thing to mega-cook and freeze.  This is a recipe that I make on the fly and to taste.  Quantities listed below are APPROXIMATE.  Taste test!

• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 2 cans Cream of Chicken or Mushroom soup
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup salsa
• Sprinkle of chili powder or taco seasoning to taste
• 3-4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Tortillas
• Enchilada sauce (optional)

Directions:
These are several ways that you can put these together.  Typically I mix the soup, sour cream, salsa and seasonings together.  I assemble the enchiladas by putting some chicken down the center of the tortilla.  Top it with some sauce and a bit of cheese and roll up.  Place enchiladas in a 9 x 13 casserole dish.  Top with remaining sauce and plenty of shredded cheese.

Alternatively, you can mix the chicken with the sauce mixture and use this in the center of the enchiladas.  After rolling them up and placing in the casserole dish, top with enchilada sauce and plenty of shredded cheese.

You can get creative and add onions, veggies, rice, or beans.

Fried Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 pound sausage
• 1 chopped onion
• 6 cups cabbage, cut into thin wedges
• 2 tablespoons water
• salt and pepper to taste
• Splashes of soy sauce to taste
• Cooked rice

Directions

1. Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Remove and set aside.
2. Cook onion in the hot grease until tender. Add cabbage, and stir in water, soy sauce, salt, and pepper. Cook until cabbage wilts, about 15 minutes. Stir in sausage. 
3. Serve over rice

Stovetop Yankee Pot Roast

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 (3 pound) beef round tip roast
• flour for dredging
• 3 medium onions, sliced
• 3 large carrots, peeled and cut into small chunks
• 3 large stalks celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 whole allspice berries
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup dry red wine
• 2 (12 ounce) cans beef broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in a small amount of water

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a heavy, cast iron pot over medium heat. Dredge the roast in the flour, shake off the excess, and brown in the hot oil on all sides. Stir in the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, and allspice; cook till lightly browned. Pour in the red wine and bring to a simmer before pouring in the beef broth. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until the beef is tender, about 2 to 3 hours.
2. When the meat has finished cooking, remove to a cutting board, and allow to rest for 10 minutes. While beef is resting, thicken the cooking liquid with the cornstarch. Slice the beef and serve with the gravy. 

 Original here

Big Giant Meatballs

These are great to make ahead and put in the crockpot with your favorite sauce.  Excellent for entertaining.

•   4pounds ground beef
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 4 cups stale Italian bread, crumbled
• 3 cups lukewarm water
• 2 cups olive oil

Directions

1. Combine beef, veal, and pork in a large bowl. Add garlic, eggs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
2. Blend bread crumbs into meat mixture. Slowly add the water 1/2 cup at a time. The mixture should be very moist but still hold it's shape if rolled into meatballs. (I usually use about 1 1/4 cups of water). Shape into meatballs.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Fry meatballs in batches. When the meatball is very brown and slightly crisp remove from the heat and drain on a paper towel. (If your mixture is too wet, cover the meatballs while they are cooking so that they hold their shape better.)
4. Place cooked meatballs into Marinara Sauce and cook for 15 more minutes. 

Original here.