Turkey Tetrazzini

Got leftover Turkey?  We did!  We finally made the turkey we bought at Thanksgiving last year and it was a lot of leftover for us.  I found this freezer meal recipe so I made one for dinner and froze one for later.  You could also substitute chicken for the turkey.

1 lbs. uncooked spaghetti
1/2 lbs. sliced fresh mushrooms
1 c. chopped onion
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
3 cans (10.75oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
3 c. cubed cooked turkey
1 c. chicken broth
1/3 c. sherry or additional chicken broth
1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
3/4 tsp. pepper
2 c. grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, saute mushrooms and onion in oil until tender.  Add the garlic, cook 1 minute longer.  Stir in the soup, turkey broth, sherry Italian seasoning, pepper, and 1 cup cheese.  Drain spaghetti; stir into turkey mixture.
3. Transfer to two greased 8-inch square baking dishes.  Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.  Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months.  Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until heated through.

To use Frozen Casserole:
Thaw in refrigerator overnight.  Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before baking.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Uncover; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.

Turkey Burger with Zucchini and Carrot

I was trying to figure out something to do with zucchini that I had.  This recipe sounded interesting and wasn't any harder to mix up than a a regular burger.  It turned out really good.  The burger has lots of flavor and is super healthy.  I just used regular hamburger buns and I didn't make the mayo mix.  I used 1 lbs. of Ground Turkey Breast and it made 4 large size burgers.

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound ground turkey
• 1 medium zucchini, grated
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 slices crusty bread
• 4 small leaves Boston lettuce
• 4 tablespoons mayonnaise (optional)
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (optional)

Directions

1. Heat broiler. In a large bowl, combine the turkey, zucchini, carrot, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and egg. Form the mixture into 4 patties.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties, turning once, until no pink remains, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
3. Meanwhile, place the bread on a baking sheet and brush with the remaining oil. Broil until golden brown and crisp, about 1 ½ minutes.
4. Transfer the bread to individual plates. Top with the lettuce and burgers. If desired, combine the mayonnaise and lemon juice and serve with the burgers.

 Real Simple Recipes - Turkey Burger with Zucchini and Carrots

Turkey Mac Casserole

I got this recipe from Betty Crocker.  I was looking for recipes to use zucchini in since I had a lot of it this year.  This is an amazing recipe.  It has an awesome flavor and there are lots of variations to it.  It is a good way to get veggies in your dinner.  I couldn't taste the zucchini in the casserole.  This recipe could be made ahead of time, put in the fridge and bake when you are ready to eat. 

Substitute or additions:
Add a can of mushrooms when browning the turkey
Add onions when browning the turkey
Substitute broccoli for the zucchini
Try different kinds of cheese on the top
Try different shaped noodles

Casserole
4 oz (1 c) uncooked elbow
1 lb ground turkey breast
3/4 tsp garlic pepper blend
3 medium zucchini, chopped (about 3 cups)
2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 2 tsp dried basil leaves
1 (10 oz) container light Alfredo sauce

Topping
1/4 c. Italian style bread crumbs (or mix plain bread crumbs with Italian seasoning)
2 tbsp grated Romano cheese
1 tsp margarine or butter, melted

1. Heat over to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 1/2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.  Cook macaroni to desired doneness as directed on package.  Drain.

2. In large skillet, cook and stir turkey and garlic pepper blend over med-high heat for 6-8 minutes or until turkey is no longer pink.

3. Add cooked macaroni, zucchini, basil, and Alfredo sauce; mix well.  Spoon mixture into sprayed casserole dish.  In a small bowl, combine all topping ingredients; mix well.  Sprinkle over casserole. 

4. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.