Fast, easy meals made healthy with turkey

As autumn settles in, more families enjoy meals at home — nearly 80 percent are prepared there as opposed to eaten in restaurants. But with on-the-go kids in school and extracurricular activities, there’s less time available for busy parents to cook. Factor in the desire to provide appealing meals that are also healthy, and it’s no wonder many busy parents struggle for evening meal solutions.

But moms and dads can excitedly proclaim “dinner’s almost ready” by adding turkey to their menu.

“The reality is that busy families can have it all — they can serve simple suppers that are easy to prepare, and they can ensure great-tasting, nutritious meals by simply adding turkey to those favorite dishes that parents already routinely cook,” said Jennifer Bushman, author of several Kitchen Coach cookbooks including Weeknight Cooking and Weekend Cooking. “Everyone will love the taste of turkey in these meals, and parents can feel great about the nutritious, high-protein benefits turkey offers the family.”

A variety of simple-to-prepare meals — many of them regular family favorites — are every bit as tasty and provide a healthy choice when made with turkey. Try sloppy joes using ground turkey for a saucy and satisfying, yet protein-packed, family pleaser. Experience a zesty taste of the Southwest with easy turkey enchiladas. And break out of the ordinary routine with Italian turkey sausage and pasta — a quick, one-dish wonder that is sure to tantalize the taste buds.

Another way to add a touch of “super” to a best-loved dish is to create fabulous lasagna with ground turkey or Italian turkey sausage (sweet or hot). Turkey is also a prime-time performer when used in spaghetti with ground turkey meat sauce.

Turkey Sloppy Joes

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 10 minutes / Total Time: 30 minutes

1 package Honeysuckle White or

Shady Brook Farms Ground Turkey

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, seeded

and chopped

1- 1/2 cup (12 ounces) chili sauce

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

6 (4-inch) hamburger buns

Green leaf lettuce, optional

1 medium tomato, optional

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion and bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Add turkey; crumble and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes; drain. Stir in chili sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Cook, covered, over low heat for 10 minutes. Divide mixture evenly over bottom of buns. Layer on lettuce and tomato, if desired. Top with remaining buns.

Easy Turkey Enchiladas

Servings: 5

Prep Time: 10 minutes / Total Time: 50 minutes

1 package Honeysuckle White or

Shady Brook Farms Turkey Breast

Cutlets, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup light sour cream

1 cup light ranch dressing

10 (8-inch) flour tortillas

1 cup (8 ounces) shredded Monterey

Jack cheese

2 cups bottled salsa

2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 green onions, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 9 x 11-inch baking pan. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook turkey, stirring constantly until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. In small bowl, mix sour cream and ranch dressing. In another small bowl, combine 1 cup sour cream mixture and turkey. Divide turkey mixture, cheese and salsa evenly over tortillas. Roll up and place seam-side down in prepared pan. Bake, uncovered, 25 to 30 minutes. Top with tomato, green onion and any remaining salsa and/or sour cream mixture.

Italian Turkey Sausage With Pasta

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 10 minutes / Total Time: 35 minutes

1 package Honeysuckle White or

Shady Brook Farms Hot or

Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cans (14- 1/2 ounces each) whole

peeled tomatoes with juice,

broken up

1 package (16 ounce) penne, rotelle or

fusilli pasta, cooked according to

package directions

1 cup (8 ounces) Mozzarella cheese,

cut into 1/2 -inch pieces

Slice open package with sharp knife; remove sausage casings. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Add sausage and tomato; crumble sausage. Cook, stirring constantly until sauce is thickened, about 20 minutes. In large bowl, mix cooked pasta with meat sauce. Top pasta with cheese and serve.