A Quick and Simple Dairy-Free Ground Turkey Recipe

As some of you might know, I started on a dairy-free diet roughly for about a month now. Being on a dairy-free diet means having the option to pick each and every ingredient you use in your food. My food choices are somehow limited but it does not mean I won't be able to eat good food. Because I just know what my tummy really wants! :D

Just like the other day, I cannot think of what to prepare and I was in a hurry because my little one's nap time is almost over. Good thing my husband thawed a ground turkey that he'll use for dinner. Well, me and my daughter doesn't have anything yet for lunch so I thought of making meatballs.

This is not fancy but this is easy to prepare. And moreover, the ingredients are basic staples you'll find in your pantry/fridge.

Ingredients:
Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey
Carrots
Onion
Garlic
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instruction: Just combine everything together and roll them in a ball.

I did not use egg nor flour to bind the meatballs but it works just fine. You can tell I really am in a hurry with the kind of preparation. I think it was done in less than 10 minutes!

For the side, I ate some leftover rice then opened a can of corn to mix with the excess carrots I chopped. I did not add salt and pepper anymore because I thought the meatball was already tasty.

Just a few remarks on this meal, you may want to dice the garlic and onion a little bit tinier than the one I did, especially when you have a little one, because she just might not like the taste. Haha. Also, the rice and corn & carrots doesn't go well together so you just have to choose one. I think with meatballs, I'd rather go for the latter, just as I presented. :)

DISCLOSURE

I received a sample of the product mentioned above to facilitate my review. Everything was based on my honest opinion of the product. The recipe about was not tested by the FDA and should you have allergies, consult your doctor first.

What Goes Well With Turkey Burger

No-o-oh! Summer's not yet over! It's still grilling season, I can still feel the warm weather! And what better way to spend the remaining days outside with some burger patties! :D

Mmm... It's my first time to try the Jennie-O Original Turkey Burgers and I sure was hesitant at first because I am used to using ground pork. Well, I hope I didn't wait that long because they really tasted great! Better than I expected actually because I thought 'lean' foods taste bland. Guess I was wrong!

My husband prepared these foods and he even cooked my favorite dish - pork soup with tamarind, but I didn't touch it! I indulged myself with my new food pairings and I loved it!

Now this is eating healthy. That was my first plate but in reality, I was able to finish three servings of them all! The combination might look weird but they all worked together and made my tummy happy! :D

DISCLOSURE

I was given a sample of Jennie-O Original Turkey Burger for review but everything was based on my honest opinion.

Oven Ready™ Boneless Turkey Breast

Turkeys are not just for Thanksgiving, trust me. I've noticed a lot more people actually prefer this meat because it's more lean and it can be used in almost any meal just like chicken! I used to not eat turkey but I think I have gotten used to the taste that you'd see more turkey meat in my freezer than any other meat. LOL.

My guests also noticed that I have been using it more often during our get-together's. Just last week, I had two families came over because we invited them for lunch. One of the things we prepared, well not really prepared because we just had to cook it, was a pre-seasoned whole turkey breast. I was really surprised because this turkey was huge (like a whole chicken) and we almost finished it! They took home the remaining one fifths (1/5) of the turkey for the next day's breakfast. One of them also suggested to cut them in cubes and mix it with rice etcetera and that will automatically become a new meal! I thought of making turkey sandwiches! See, there's really a lot to do with it!

By the way, it was my husband who prepared it but he didn't cook it in the oven. He put it in a stock pot with two cups of water (for steaming purposes only, you don't want to put more because the seasonings will be useless) for more than an hour to make sure the inside part is well-cooked. I thought it turned out great if not better. It was not dry nor super moist, just right in the middle. The seasonings still stayed all over the turkey and were not bothered with the moisture due to "steaming".

If you want to know more about it, click the photo below of visit Jennie-O's website. You'll notice (if you're new to eating turkey) more turkey products you  might not have seen or imagined.

DISCLOSURE

I was provided with a sample to facilitate my review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own.

You Wouldn't Believe What Kind of Frankfurters These Are!

You don't have to make guest-entertaining tedious, especially this summer. If you are thinking what backyard foods to serve, try franks! Kids love them and adults too! You can put it in a bun, saute it with tomatoes or just grill-and-serve. They can also be cooked in different ways - fried, oven-baked and grilled. Let's try these three different ways and see!

1) OVEN-BAKED
The Uncured Turkey Franks were a hit when I tried to serve it as an appetizer during one of our picnics. I wouldn't have actually noticed they liked it until one of my friends said, "The franks taste good, what brand is this?". Franks taste almost the same no matter what kind (maybe because they look the same? :P). So I was extremely surprised with her comment. At first, I didn't tell them it was turkey because they might hesitate (especially those who are not used to it) so I waited until they finished the whole thing! LOL! When I finally told my friends, most of them were surprised to know it's turkey. Just like my experience, I wouldn't have known and liked if I didn't try.

2) FRIED
I was not able to take a photo of the (cooked) Jennie-O Bun Length franks because my husband fried them (there's 4 in every pack) and ate everything in one sitting! As it is! No condiments, just rice! Oh, I can't imagine how fast he did it but he said it was really good so he ate everything! What he likes the most is it's not salty compared to other franks. While eating, he also shared that he talked about Jennie-O with his co-workers and one of them said his family already made a switch to turkey because his wife loved the taste of Jennie-O. It was not really a surprise because once you've tried it, I'm certain you'll like it. Happened to me. ;)

3) GRILLED
Summer = Grilling Season, nobody would disagree. But for us, it's not all about pork or chicken barbecue. It's also franks, turkey and Jennie-O! Okay that's all the same thing. LOL. The photos below showcases Jennie-O's Jalapeno Jack. Same lean and no preservatives franks. I got the very first one we cooked and it was freshly removed from the grill when I tried to put it in my mouth. It was super hot and I immediately smelled the jalapeno. I thought it is going to be really really spicy, but no, which I guess was a good thing. It was tolerable, there's no need to have a glass of water beside you! Don't just try to give it to your kids. :) Again, you'll see the proof that he now ate three of them!!! Since I started eating mine until I finished eating it, I didn't know he was doing the same thing, only he was able to finish three!

I'd say it really is surprising to see that there's not much difference in taste and texture (at least for franks) compared to chicken or beef. You won't find any odd taste or smell. As I mentioned awhile ago, Jennie-O franks are just lean and they do not contain preservatives like nitrate or nitrite. What a relief, right? Well, it's also nice to know Jennie-O offers flavored and non-flavored franks to accommodate people's preferences on how to eat them.

If you'd like to know more about Jennie-O, visit their website, Facebook page, Twitter account or Instagram profile. If you'd like to know where to find them, click here. I've seen some Jennie-O products at Weis and Safeway, they've got a variety at Target. :)

DISCLAIMER

I was not paid to do a review of this post. I was given free samples to test the products. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.

Turkey Spaghetti and A Mexican Treat!

I was never used to eating turkey but I made a switch a few months ago after discovering ways on how to incorporate them in our regular family meals. I have other ground turkey recipes in my previous post and now I continue to think of ways to cook it.

My daughter loves spaghetti and that's when I thought of using Jennie-O Lean Ground turkey as part of the sauce. I must admit it is a bit bland than beef or pork meats (possibly because they made it lean and there's also extra lean) but hey, I can always add more spices. After that, there's no telling what it is! Seriously. There's no smell, if you ought to think about it. Look how tempting it was!

For the last Cinco de Mayo, we had a mini-celebration with a few close friends. I thought that would be the perfect time to use Jennie-O Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey. Honestly, I was surprised they have flavored turkey too! I think my husband was more excited than I was to try using it for the first time! He was even the one who prepared our tortilla. He just sauteed the Taco Seasoned Turkey with very little olive oil (you bet you can use any other kind of oil) and some fresh minced garlic.

I have to tell, I really don't like burritos, tacos or tortillas, but this was really really really good (I rarely say a "really" thrice)! I am not kidding, after one bite I knew I would be getting another one!!! I didn't even have to ask my friends how they liked it, one of them told me it was really tempting! The other said it tastes like the ones you order at Chipotle! Geeee! Now I know what to serve a big group next time. Those ingredients can feed more than a dozen and it's not really expensive to make! You'll even save time because it's also seasoned and the other ingredients are easy to find.

After all this, I can share 4 reasons why you can switch to turkey just like I did:

1) IT'S DELICIOUS - The tender, juicy and mouthwatering flavor of turkey is hard to resist. Jennie-O products make it easy to create satisfying meals you family will love.

2) YOU CAN FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT - It's easy to eat well without sacrificing the taste. This delicious, smart and versatile protein works great in recipes that typically call for ground beef.

3) IT'S EASY TO FIND - I buy mine at Target, Safeway and Weis at their refrigerated section. Look for Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey in convenient pre-seasoned Italian and Taco varieties for quick and simple meals.

4) IT'S VERSATILE - If you can make it with ground beef, you can make it with ground turkey! That simple!

For more recipes and a list of their products, visit Jennie-O.com, You'll be surprised how much you can make with turkey!

Now, the most amazing part of this post... Just so I can prove what I told you about Jennie-O turkey is, they are sponsoring a $20 worth of Jennie-O products! Only one lucky winner will be chosen. Join now! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLAIMER

I was given samples to review but everything was based on my honest opinion. 

Ground Turkey Recipes

I was never a fan of turkey until I bumped into Jennie-O. They have other turkey products but Lean Ground Turkey is one of my favorite. It's because I know I can do a lot with ground meats. I can saute it, fry it, partner it with my pasta and even make my own burger patties! I used to prepare meals with ground pork or ground beef, but now I put turkey into consideration.

Now-a-days, you'd never know how your food was processed. For me, it is important to look at the packaging. With this Jennie-O Ground Turkey, three things caught my attention - Lean, All Natural and 7% Fat. The reason I prefer healthy options these days is not really for me, but for my daughter and husband. The 1.25 lbs. package you see costs not more than $6 at Target. Which is probably not cheaper than the other ground meats but at least I know that it is made from all natural ingredients. With it I was able to make 3 different viands good for 3 people.

 

When cooking with ground turkey, especially this lean one (they also have extra lean), remember that they do not have much fat and you should add more spices to get the taste you want.

 

Sautee garlic and onion. Add ground turkey and cook until the meat is done. Add a little broth. Add potato cubes (you can add carrots too) and raisins. Season with salt and pepper.

Ball-ganisa (Longanisa)

Mix altogether: ground turkey, garlic, a little sugar, salt and pepper . Shape into ball then fry. Better served with sunny-side up.

 

With the remaining ground turkey, I was also able to make spring rolls. I just mixed ground turkey with minced garlic and onion, salt and pepper and added tiny cubes of carrots. I was not able to take a photo though we still have some in the freezer. I will update this post if I remember taking some photo before eating them all up.

 

I cook without measurements, I just do estimates. I do not taste what I cook but I think I do things right because my husband loves them. Or maybe he is not telling the truth! LOL. If you have other ground turkey recipe, please share so I can try them too! :)

  

 DISCLAIMER

I was given the product/s mentioned above to review and was not compensated in any other way.

 Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.

Easy Breezy Oven-Ready Turkey

I hosted the recent Thanksgiving party at home and I should say it was easy breezy because I found Jennie-O turkey which can be prepared with no hassle! Why? Because it's oven-ready! I didn't really know how to cook a whole turkey so I thought of serving it in a different way.

 

I bought two kinds of turkey in "loaf" - one white and one white & dark. There's really not much when it comes to taste, both appeared to be soft but not saggy and you'll see the meat was processed perfectly because it's "full" or "packed", unlike the others where you'll see bubbles in the meat itself. One more thing, there's no need to buy gravy because it's already included in the pan (and by the way, the pan is included too!)! And the serving is generous! It is normally sold at $599 at Safeway but I bought it on sale for $4.99 each. Really not bad with everything in it.

 

 

In the box, there were recipe and serving suggestions. I didn't add anything so I'd know the real taste. Besides, there's really no need to put or mix it with anything because it was already good on it's own.

 

I tried to follow the instruction written on the box, and that is to bake it well-done at 165 F. It took me 3.5hrs to bake both because I wanted to make sure they are well well well done and since they were still frozen when I popped them in the oven! Tee-hee! I served it in a flower-like presentation and didn't tell my guests it's turkey until they put some on their plate. I just told them it was meatloaf, which was true, and they were surprised when I announced that it's turkey. Hahaha! This serving is one loaf, I had two of the same presentation. :)

 



So, having tried and tested it, am I going to get some! Yes, and I am going to try to put the meat in a salad, cubed! Or I can just try some other Jennie-O products.

DISCLOSURE

I was given free coupons to try Jennie-O Oven-Ready Turkey but ended up buying the products mentioned above. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.

A Dinner (and Lunch) My 2-Year Old Liked

I am a stay-at-home mom and I prepare meals almost everyday - lunch and dinner. I didn't include breakfast because it means cereals and/or bread with spread. Most of the time, I ran out of ideas on what to serve to my family. If you're in the same shoe as I do, you'd know.

I went to the store the other day and tried to find a Jennie-O branded marinated turkey to review as a requirement for a part-time job, that I can't disclose. Nobody knew I was going to review this, not them, not my husband and neither did I until I tasted it. ;)

I haven't tried any store-bought marinated thing ever. I usually do it myself or if not, my husband. And this was all new to me, I haven't eaten turkey, again, ever. Not even during Thanksgiving.

So, the only available flavor at the store is Applewood Smoke. There are more flavors, I believe. It was already marinated so I didn't try to change the taste and put some other kind of sauce. I didn't add anything. It was in the frige section, hence, I was able to bake it in the oven at 375F for 30mins as soon as I arrived home.

The turkey breast tenderloin was not as bad as I expected. It smelled delicious, even after opening and while cooking. There's this certain aroma that will lure you to try it, must be the applewood scent. At first I thought it was a bit dry because I love sauces. But after tasting, it was just right. I wish I knew the perfect side dish for this. I wish maybe they can put a note on the package - "suggested serving".

Anyway, the picture you'll see below is the exact thing I served to my 2-year old. She is a very picky eater but she loves chicken. I told her that was chicken and she ate it! (It tasted somewhat like chicken anyway with a more stronger smell.) She of course was not able to finish everything because the portion was too big. I placed her leftovers in the fridge and she asked it for lunch, just awhile ago.

By the way, there are two pieces of turkey tenderloins in one pack. It is indeed good for two people or three if you have a toddler. :)

Because of that, I am very glad I tried this. It caused me no hassle to prepare, just toss in the oven! And the most important thing is, my daughter liked it!

DISCLAIMER

I was not compensated to do a review of the products or services mentioned this post. I will be reimbursed for the cost of the product by the company I was working with which I can't disclose. Everything was based on my 100% honest opinion.