As we approach May, I knew that I was going to be busy getting ready for tonnes of fun things to start the spring. When the sun starts shining, I start getting outside more and more to find things that I can do to shed those winter blues. That means that I want quick and easy meal ideas for when I get home… but I like making meals that are a little bit different.

You may remember me saying, if you’re a long-time reader, that I use turkey and chicken for nearly everything that I eat. When I go shopping, we skip over beef completely. I don’t have particular reasons for doing that except that I was never a fan of red meat to begin with, I only ever ate it because it was inexpensive. When I began switching to ground turkey, I also began changing many other things in my weekly shopping trips, and I haven’t found turkey purchases to be putting a strain on our budget. I spend about $5-6 per pound of turkey, but the payoff in my health can’t be ignored. Both my roommate and I dropped significant weight when I decided to take beef out of our diets, as well as an overall adjustment in the digestive health in each body in the house.

The taste of ground turkey over beef, I find, is lighter and far more enjoyable. I find it to be softer, and I also find that it soaks up more flavour in a shorter cooking time. But perhaps the best part of the switch was that my own unhusband, and plenty of house guests never even noticed until I told them that we don’t use beef. It surprises people to be able to enjoy their favourite comfort meals (sloppy joes, hamburgers, tacos, nachos, meatballs or meatloaf) without eating beef.

Today I wanted to share with you a super moist, amazingly tasty meatloaf that will help introduce your family to turkey.

You Will Need:

2 apples, peeled and grated
1 lb ground turkey
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 finely chopped onion
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped chives
2 eggs
Salt and pepper if desired

 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, then place in a loaf pan and bake at 325 for an hour and fifteen minutes or until thoroughly cooked.

I like to serve this with a delicious wild and brown rice, and with steamed veggies like asparagus.

You’ll notice in my video that I don’t use oats or chives. I was out of these items at the time. I definitely noticed the lack of oats, and would not leave them out again. They really bring the loaf together. You can also add more spices if you like. I always leave salt out to let individuals decide for themselves at the table.