9am Crock Pot Spaghetti - make in the a.m for busy days

It's pouring rain outside, I have 2 business meetings, need to pick up kids from school, take them to jazz and tap dance and my mother in law is coming over for dinner and watch the kids while hubby and I steal away to dinner and a flick. Hmmm. Here is what I am making them for dinner.

9am Spaghetti Crock Pot

1 lb. extra lean ground turkey
Chopped onion, to taste
2 (1 lb.) cans tomatoes, cut up
1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1 (12 oz.) can tomato paste
2 tbsp. parsley
1 tbsp. brown sugar or stevia
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1 tsp. dried basil leaves

1 tsp. summer savory
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Brown ground turkey meat and onion in fry pan, drain off fat; transfer to crock pot. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve over hot spaghetti. Can be made ahead and frozen. Tip: add diced veggies 10 minutes before serving OR alongside the pasta. Serve with garlic toast and side salad.

Dinner ready at 5pm. Easy and healthy.

How to make a Healthier Taco Casserole

To make the week fun, we make special meals on certain days. It gives my family things to look forward to. We all got to pick the meals for certain days.  My husband LOVES mexican food so he picked Taco Tuesdays.  Here is an easy recipe I make if I am pressed for time.

Ingredients:

1 lb. extra lean ground turkey

8 ounces whole wheat pasta

1/2 cup diced onion

1 (11 oz) can condensed tomato soup

1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes

2/3 pkg (1.25 oz) low sodium taco seasoning mix

2 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

2 oz. shredded monterey jack cheese

1 cup Trader Joes flax seed tortilla chips

1/2 cup low fat sour cream or low fat plain yogurt

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1 large sliced avocado

salsa

Directions:

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cook pasta in large pot according to directions. Drain. In large skillet, cook and stir ground turkey and onion over medium heat until brown. Mix in soup, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning. Stir in pasta.  Spoon ground turkey mixture into 9x13 inch baking dish sprayed with non stick spray. Sprinkle crumbled taco chops and grated cheese on top. Bake 30 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve with sliced avocado, salsa, green onion and sour cream on the side.

Suggestions: Serve with a side salad.

Kiana Mini Meal: Turkey High Protein On the Go

Here is one of my favorite recipes! I make this every week and keep it in the refrigerator to add to lettuce wraps, in taco shells, in pita bread, put on pizza, or stuff bell peppers.  It's great for lunches and to put in air tight containers to enjoy with baked tortilla chips for lunch on the go. I love topping it with hot sauce, low sodium soy sauce or amino soy sauce.  You can use as much or as little of the ground turkey, brown rice, black beans or corn as you like.  You don't need to measure. I like extra turkey and veggies in ours...


Turkey Surprise:


Ingredients:
1 package extra lean ground turkey
1 red or green bell pepper
small diced onion or chopped garlic
1/2 cup frozen peas, frozen asparagus or any fresh veggies you like
1 can black beans
1 can corn kernels
low sodium soy sauce or amino soy
salt & pepper
brown rice-prepared according to package instructions

Directions:
Heat 1 tsp. oil in pan, add onion and garlic until brown.  Add ground turkey to pan and brown.  When brown, turn down heat and add diced bell pepper, frozen peas (or asparagus, broccoli...)corn, black beans, salt, pepper.  Fold in brown rice.