Guest Author - Jill Valente

From the looks of my various last names one would think I was some raging Italian person but in reality I am not. My mother was born in Dublin, Ireland making me half Irish, half Italian. One would also think that since I am first generation Irish I would be celebrating my heritage this St. Patrick’s day with a healthy Irish meal. Unfortunately my mom didn’t cook very often growing up so I have no real knowledge to spread. Instead I offer a great recipe for Turkey Meatballs!

Turkey Meatballs
Ground turkey is a great alternative to beef if you are watching your weight, trying to lower your cholesterol or just don’t eat red meat. This recipe is so fulfilling you will forget that its good for you!

Ingredients
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• ½ cup seasoned bread crumbs
• ½ cup quick cooking oats
• ¼ parsley, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp oregano
• ½ cup skim milk
• 1 egg white
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp seasoned bread crumbs
• Cooking spray

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, oats, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano in a large bowl and mix to blend. Then add the skim milk, egg white and ground turkey. Using your hands combine all the ingredients and form the meat mixture into about 12 balls (each should be about 2-3 inches in diameter). Combine the additional parmesan cheese and bread crumbs on a plate and roll the meatballs through it coating all sides. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray and place the meatballs on it. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping them after 15 (they should have a nice crust on each side). Then add meatballs to your favorite tomato sauce and simmer for at least another 30-45 minutes or until they are cooked through. Serve with fresh whole wheat pasta and enjoy. Makes 6-8 servings. 4 points per serving (not including tomato sauce or pasta).

Notes
Make sure all the ingredients are blended together before adding the turkey. This will help eliminate handling the meat too much which can make it tough. If you prefer you can make 24 meatballs that are 1-2 inches, just know that they will probably bake up in half the time.