Blue Cheese Stuffed Turkey and Bacon Burger

Warm weather is approaching, perhaps here for those not in the sweet state of UT.  This means it is time for some grilling. Nothing says warm weather like a tasty blue bacon burger.  Substitute turkey and you have a healthier take on an American classic. 

Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey
1 egg
1 cup breadcrumb
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp grill seasoning
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
1/2 cup fat free plain yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
8 slices bacon cooked till crispy
Your favorite burger toppings

Start by mixing in a bowl the Turkey, egg, breadcrumb, oil, seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper.  Combine with your hands until all Incorporated.  The oil is crucial as the turkey will dry out so be sure to mix well.  Make the mixture into 8 equal portions.

 Separate out half of the blue cheese into a small bowl.  Add the yogurt, lemon juice, and some salt and pepper and mix together.  Place in the fridge for as long as possible so the flavors meld.

Using your equal parts of meat, make 8 patties.  Take some of the remaining blue cheese, and place it in the middle of one of the patties.  Top with another patty and seal the edges so the cheese doesn't leak out.  Season the stuffed patties on both sides with salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes per side.  This is poultry so you need to cook it all the way through.  It should feel firm to the touch with no give, or with a meat thermometer check that it is 175 in the middle of the burger (not the cheese).

Top the burgers with the bacon, your favorite toppings, and spread some of the dressing on the bun.  Substitute whole wheat buns for additional healthy options.  This was a real treat, and some what guilt free.  We hope you enjoy.

Turkey Meatloaf

While I haven't had a computer for the past week, I have had so much free time to cook. I don't know about you, but I get sucked in to the computer...and before you know it, I have been online for over an hour. 

This recipe comes from my friend Catherine. Seriously...amazing. Let me start off by saying, don't be afraid of meatloaf. It can be really good. Promise. We were so impressed with how moist this was, because sometimes turkey can be a little dry. Go ahead, give this a try! 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

1 small onion, chopped

1 teaspoon thyme

1/4 cup chicken stock

1/8 cup worchestershire sauce

1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste

1/2 cups breadcrumbs

1 egg

salt, pepper, garlic salt 

On the stove, saute your onion in a little bit of oil. Add 1/2 teaspoon thyme, chicken stock, worchestershire sauce, and tomato paste. Mix until it starts to thicken. Let cool for about five minutes. Then mix all of the ingredients together and shape into a loaf. Drizzle with a little ketchup and bake at 325 for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers

We love to eat burgers without a bun...as long as there is enough flavor in the burger!  My friend told me awhile ago she had made the best turkey burgers with feta in them. I knew then that we had to come up with our own! These were so perfect, my six year old wanted seconds! 

1 pound ground turkey
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
2 garlic cloves-minced
1 egg
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon paprika
salt and pepper

Chop up the tomatoes and spinach. Mix all ingredients together and make your patties. Grill on an indoor grill-George Forman or grill pan, or on the grill outside. Yum!  

Crockpot Turkey and Sausage

There is nothing better then a crock pot meal...dump it, and forget about it! This one is particularly yummy! And pretty darn healthy too:)

3-4 Turkey Breasts

1 lb mild Italian Sausage

1 can Great Northern Beans

1 can Red Beans

1 can Italian Style diced tomatoes

1 can Chicken Broth

1/2 of a yellow onion-chopped

1 cup chopped celery

Salt and Pepper

Brown sausage first. Drain access grease and then put in the crock pot. Add turkey, beans, tomatoes, chicken broth, onion, celery, salt and pepper. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over rice.

Turkey Cranberry Wreath

I made this Turkey Wreath for our MOM group. It was the first time I ever made it, and I think it turned out SO good. It is the perfect meal to make with all that leftover turkey! Or if you don't have any left over turkey, just buy the turkey breasts and chop them finely.

2 packages of refrigerated crescent rolls

3 cups cooked turkey breasts-I seasoned mine with thyme, and poultry seasoning

2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup celery-chopped

1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries

3 tablespoons fresh parsley-snipped

olive oil

salt and pepper

Mix together turkey, cheese, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, celery, cranberries, parsley, and salt and pepper.

Unroll crescent roll dough and separate into 1 triangles. On a pizza stone, with wide ends of triangles toward the center, arrange 8 of the triangles in the center. Arrange the remaining 8 triangles in the center, matching the ends. Seal the seems. Scoop filling over the seams of the dough, forming a circle. Beginning in the center, lift one triangle across mixture. Continue alternating with outer triangle, so that they all overlap. Brush the top with olive oil and bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.