What's For Dinner Mom

 Everyday I wait for those words "whats for dinner? If you are like me - on a budget,  you know the dilemma of making dinner interesting.  Ground turkey 7% fat ( I like perdue) is a main staple of a lot of my recipes.  Here is one we all like-                                                 

                            

 SPICY  TURKEY PASTA                                                                                                                    You will need:                                                                                                                                                 

 16 oz  hunts tomatoe sauce with basil and garlic

8oz  plain tomatoe sauce

1 can diced tomatoes

3/4 package barrilla thin Spaghetti( or you can pick a pasta that will stand up to a meat sauce-- no angel hair for this recipe)

1 pkg ground turkey 7% fat ( no less than one pound if you get it at the butcher)

a good hand full of fresh parsley

1 large vidalia or other sweet onion sliced

red pepper flakes 

salt( I always use kosher or sea salt)

fresh ground black pepper

Garlic salt or powder( just remember to adjust your  regular salt if you use the garlic salt or use fresh if you prefer)

Extra virgin olive oil

Fresh grated parm cheese(  if you don't keep a slice of parm cheese around - you can buy it already grated in the refridgerated cheese section of the grocery store- Stop and Shop brand is good - I keep a bag on hand)

2 tsp raw sugar- i like to use raw regular granulated is fine too

In large skillet add about 1/4 cup olive oil.  Slice onions and put them in pan with seasonings( salt , pepper,garlic salt, red pepper flakes( this part you have to play with we like it hot- ) keep on med. heat till translucent - add ground turkey turn up heat untill meat is browned and cooked through- this takes just a few minutes. Taste meat adjust seasoning Add diced tomatoes and Sauce- rip up 1/4 of the parsley  and add with the sugar  to sauce. I add a little water at this point not even a half cup and another splash of olive oil. Cover loosley with foil ,simmer on med. low heat until sauce thickens up-stirring every few minutes. This takes about 1/2 hour- when sauce looks about ready boil your pasta add sauce- garnish with parsley and grated parm and enjoy- leftovers are so good! You can even make the sauce a day ahead - tastes even better!                      ************* **you can use this filling for lasagna   - for the cheese layer I mix one small container of part skim ricotta -1 egg beaten     -1pkg. frozen chopped spinach- salt and pepper- 1/4 cup grated parm cheese- layer no boil lasag. noodles starting with meat mixture    then alternate with the cheese  and spinach mixture   -top each layer with shredded part skim mozzarella. Bake covered with foil for 45mins at 400 degrees- uncover and bake about 15 to 20 mins. or until cheese is bubbly and browned!