Sweet Saturday #28: Turkey Loaf

I've been sick the past few days, so apologies for this link party being a day late!...Today's post isn't exactly sweet, but I wanted to share this recipe for those of you who don't have to/want to go all out for Thanksgiving this year. If I wasn't traveling to North Carolina to be with my extended family, I'd be home making this simple and tasty turkey loaf for Paul, Lily, and myself. I found the recipe in a book called 100 Best Slow Cooked Dishes and really enjoyed it when I made it a few weeks ago. Although the recipe was for making in a slow cooker, I made it in my oven instead.

Turkey Loaf
(serves 6-8)

Ingredients:

1 1/4 lb ground lean turkey meat
1 onion, chopped
2/3 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp fresh chopped sage
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ground turkey, onion, oats, sage, Worcestershire sauce, egg, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Spoon mixture into a greased 9" loaf pan and smooth the top out with a spatula. Place loaf into oven on center rack and bake uncovered for about 30 minutes, or until loaf registers at 170 degrees in center. Slice up and serve after allowing to cool for a few minutes. See? Easy!

We had this with corn on the cob and asparagus baked eggs and it was all very good. The turkey loaf had a savory flavor from the sage and onion, and was just the right texture, didn't even need gravy! It's the perfect recipe for a small family, or for the mom who doesn't want go crazy making a huge turkey that just ends up being leftovers for weeks. The oats contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients that provide you with a natural burst of energy, and support for a healthy heart and immune system. They are high in fiber and can help lower cholesterol, and even lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Had it all again as leftovers the very next day

Lily ate every bite

She LOVES corn on the cob

 Now for our awesome fall-themed most-clicked features!

 
These scrumptious-looking maple brown sugar granola cookies were our most visited sweet treat. A healthier cookie that will still satisfy your sweet tooth ;) Thanks, Tammy, at Our Neck of the Woods! 

Diane at Simple Living and Eating shared this mouth-watering recipe for apple sage chicken that I cannot wait to try. Truly a unique and cozy recipe. Thanks, Diane!

Mary from Back to the Basics shared a post about gifting eco-friendly seeds that is not exactly fall-related, but with the holidays right around the corner, it's no wonder so many decided to click it! Take a look at her array of heirloom seed offerings if you missed it last week!

And the most clicked-on honorable mentions are:

What Can Grow in Your Heart? from Saved by Grace Bible Study

Creamy Dill Chickpea Salad from Determined Darling

Please Help Victims of Sandy from A Writer Weaves a Tale

Thanks to everyone who linked up, and welcome new linkers! Grab a button below if you were featured!

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Now on to the party!

Just follow these simple rules:

1. Link up something sweet to really WOW us all- your blog, Etsy store, Pinterest, Facebook, whatever you want! 

2. Link-up as much as you want and please follow me if you are not already. Leave me a comment if you are a new follower so I can follow you back!

3. Don't forget to hop around and say hi!

4. Share my button to get more people to join us (not required, but it would be nice!)

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Thanks for stopping by, this little get together really makes the weekend even more enjoyable for me, and gives me the encouragement to keep my little blog going :) 

Meatless Monday Ravioli with Sweet Potato in Lemon-Sage Browned Butter Sauce

We enjoyed this lovely and delicate-tasting dish a few weeks a go for Meatless Monday. It's a creation of my own, although loosely based on this recipe. The combination of the sweet potatoes with sage and cheesey ravioli was unique, and surely a combination I will be toying with more in the future.

Ravioli and Sweet Potato in Lemon-Sage Browned Butter Sauce

Ingredients:

1 15 oz package cheese ravioli (see suggested)

1 large sweet potato, skinned and cubed

1/4 cup butter

1 tbsp lemon juice or juice of 1 lemon

1 tbsp chopped sage + extra for garnish

1 tsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Boil the ravioli according to package instructions. While you're doing that, lightly cook the sweet potato by boiling or steaming for 5 minutes. The key is to not overcook it and make it mushy. Drain each and then set aside. Melt butter in pan over medium-low heat until it starts to bubble, then add lemon juice, sage, salt, pepper, brown sugar, and nutmeg, and stir. Cook for about 1-2 minutes more or until it has a nutty aroma and turns a soft brown color. Add the sweet potatoes and saute in the butter sauce for about 2-3 minutes or until well-coated. Remove from heat and add in the raviolis until they are well-coated as well. Serve with some sage sprinkled on top and extra lemon and/or grated cheese of your choice if desired.

This is one of the few raviolis Lily likes (I know, shocking! What kid doesn't like ravioli?) and Paul and I have grown quite found of it as well. Paul actually picked it up one night when he took on the task of grocery shopping and I was glad that it caught his eye. You can use whichever kind of ravioli you like or have on hand, but if you can find the brand pictured below, I highly recommend it. It boiled right to perfection and the cheese taste was spot on and not dry like it sometime can be with frozen or dried ravioli. If you have access to fresh ravioli, that would work well too.

Baby can enjoy some of the boiled or steamed sweet potato with a little butter and sage. Yum, yum! Older babies over 9 months can have some of the raviolis chopped up with the sweet potato.

The sharp, yet light, green flavor of sage gives this dish something extra. Pairing it with sweet potato is always nice. Sage has a high content of vitamin K in it and is linked to better brain function and has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. Sage was a highly valued herb during Greek and Roman times and also a favorite tea of China in the 17th century. Besides being an aromatic seasoning to add to squash, vegetable and poultry dishes, sage can be burned as an incense to purify your home and also make it smell nice :)

The Meatless Monday link party will return next week - I promise this time! Until then, work on getting your favorite healthy recipe to me for the contest I'm holding. Winner gets their recipe featured on my blog and a 1 year subscription to Eating Well magazine. Deadline is March 18th, read more about it here. Have a good week, and stop by later to enjoy some pictures from Lily's birthday bash!!