Zoodles & Meatballs

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted a recipe. The last recipe I posted was in AUGUST! It is now the 17th of September and that means that not one single recipe has been posted this entire month. Unacceptable. I just slapped my wrist. So I will get right to this recipe. I used Zucchini noodles for this dish and let me just tell you that they are SO much better than Spaghetti Squash noodles. As I have said before, I never was a big fan of spaghetti squash when used in spaghetti recipes. I have since found my replacement. You will need a Julianne peeler. Yes, you can use made the noodles without one, but do yourself a favor and spend $7.99. You won't regret it.

Ingredients:

• 4-6 zucchini squash
• salt
• 2 lbs ground turkey
• 2 eggs, whisked
• Spices of choice. I used:
• garlic powder (1/2 tbsp)
• salt & pepper (1/2 tbsp)
• smoked paprika (1/2 tbsp)
• cumin (1/2 tbsp)
• cayenne pepper (1 tsp)
• Jar of marinera

Instructions:

1. Slice zucchini with Julienne peeler until you reach the seedy center*
2. Put zucchini noodles on some paper towels and generously sprinkle salt over them. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. This allows the zucchini to sweat and removes excess moisture. Let sit for 20-30 mins, then rinse and pat dry.
3. In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, whisked eggs, and spices until combined well. 
4. Make meatballs out of the turkey mixture about the size of golf balls. You should get a lot of meatballs.
5. In a large skillet over medium high heat, cook the meatballs until almost done. Work in batches.
6. Once all of the meatballs have seen time in the skillet, add all the meatballs back to the skillet, pour in the jar of marinara, cover, and let simmer for approx 10 minutes. 
7. Place zoodles in a bowl and top with meatballs and sauce.

* I found it easiest to thinly slice the zucchini lengthwise. then you can lay the zucchini, cut side down, on your cutting board and it won't roll around everywhere.

Turkey Meatloaf

My good friend, and coworker Denise, recently joined IronTribe. She has also made the lifestyle switch to Paleo and has seen amazing results! She has lost several inches in her waist alone and has gained strength and confidence in the process. We often talk of food and recipes and she mentioned that one of her favorite meals of all times is meatloaf. I, on the other hand have never had meatloaf. The word 'meatloaf' does not appeal to me. The sight of meatloaf does not appeal to me. I have always thought of some nasty highschool lunch cafeteria food and have never been interested in taking a bite. That is, until I actually made it! I am so glad that Denise mentioned it the other day and that I attempted to make, and eat, something new! I liked it so much that I actually ate it for breakfast and lunch the following day, and breakfast the day after that!
Of course, another reason I liked it was that it was super easy and very few ingredients.

Ingredients:
• 2 lbs ground turkey
• 1 egg, whisked
• 2 tbsp coconut aminos
• 1 tsp each of garlic powder, salt, and pepper
• 1/2 cup each of chopped onion, and celery
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 375
2) Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl
3) Spray loaf pan with coconut oil
4) Pour ground turkey mixture into loaf pan. Put loaf pan on top of baking sheet to catch any run-over juices
5) Bake for 1 hour

Breakfast Scramble

I am beginning to really enjoy breakfast. I was never a fan of breakfast before....hard boiled eggs and fruit got boring really quick. Even before I started on this Paleo adventure, I was never a HUGE fan of breakfast unless it was a big bowl of cereal, french toast, or waffles. With those out of the picture, for the most part, I have had to get creative. Recently I posted on another one of my new favorite breakfast items. Well, this one is practically the same, you just don't bake it. The lovely thing about the recipe is that it is SO versitle. You can add practically anything to the dish and it will turn out perfect. Here is what I did, and I literally threw my leftovers in:

Ingredients:

• Chicken, cooked and diced
• Turkey pepperoni
• Shredded cabbage
• Bellpepper, green & red, diced
• 5 eggs
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Italian seasoning, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium skillet, warm meat. Add in veggies and sautee until tender
2. Whisk eggs in separate bowl and then add to meat/veggie mix
3. Cook the eggs as if you are making scramble eggs until done.
4. Season

This would be good for any meal or snack, not just breakfast! Add in a sweet potato and you have an even heartier meal.

Taco Salad

Need a quick and easy meal? I did and so I threw together some ingredients and out came an awesome taco salad.

I served this "meat sauce" on a bed of lettuce and topped it with this guacamole. 

Meat Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 cloves garlic, smashed
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2  6oz cans of organic tomato sauce
• Favorite herbs - I used basil, oregano, rosemary

Instructions:

1. Brown meat over medium heat
2. Remove from skillet and saute garlic and bell pepper for approx 6 mins
3. Add back meat to pan. Add tomato sauce.
4. Simmer until heated through. Add herbs in about 5 minutes before serving.

Spice Crusted Turkey Cutlets

It has been a really long time since I have cooked with Turkey Breast. Publix sells turkey breast cutlets and so I picked some up the other day. I knew I would be serving this dish with plantain chips and a salad with berries, so I didn't want anything that was very overpowering. I sort of missed the mark, a little. I really loved the spice combo, I just used WAY too much. I ended up getting a squirt of gluten free dijon mustard to help calm down the flavor. I would definitely give this recipe a shot, my only suggestion would be to sprinkle the spice blend on, instead of dredge the turkey in it, like I did :)

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of turkey breast cutlets
• 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil
•  1 Tbsp cumin
• 1 Tbsp coriander
• 1.5 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ground mustard
• 1 tsp ground garlic
• S&P 

Preparation:

• Mix together spices and sprinkle them on both sides of turkey
• Heat oil over medium heat
• Add cutlets and cook, on each side, approx 4 minutes

Overall, this was actually a really good meal. I love to have colorful dinners and the plantain chips and berries on the salad made that happen!

Turkey Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries

Do you ever get tired of eating the same meal?? There are only so many ways you can spruce up the ole turkey spaghetti (squash) recipe. I had some ground turkey in the fridge that I needed to use, but refused to make turkey spaghetti (squash) again. I decided to try something different, and just attempt to 'wing-it'. I came up with some delicious turkey burgers!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1/2 yellow onion, minced
• 2 celery stalks, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, minced
• 1 Tbsp Coconut Aminos
• Garlic powder, Sea Salt, and Pepper to taste (I didn't measure this, I just added what I thought was enough to season all the meat)
• Coconut Oil

Preparation:

1. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl
2. Heat a stick skillet over medium heat and melt coconut oil
3. Make patties out of the meat
4. Cook patty for approx 6 minutes on each side, or until done

I also cooked up some sweet potato fries (and a Greek salad that will be posted later) to go along with the burgers. 

Ingredients:

• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil, melted

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Line a cookie sheet with foil
3. Toss sweet potato in oil and sprinkle with spices
4. Bake for approx 40 mins
5. If you'd like, broil for the last couple minutes