Ground turkey is a tasty and healthy alternative to ground beef, and perfect for flavorful recipes like chili and meatloaf.

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Simple Turkey Chili

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pound ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
2 cups water
1 28-ounce can canned crushed tomatoes
1 16-ounce can canned kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Place turkey in the pot; cook until evenly brown. Stir in onion; cook until tender. Pour water into the pot. Mix in tomatoes, kidney beans, and garlic. Add chili powder, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cumin, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

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Turkey Cheeseburger Meatloaf

1 teaspoon canola oil
6 to 8 slices turkey bacon
1 pound extra lean ground turkey
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 egg
1/2 small onion, diced
1 slice French bread, crumbled, or 1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
1-1/2 tablespoons lightly packed brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish; set aside. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add turkey bacon and cook until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes per side. Drain bacon on paper towels; crumble when cool. Mix cooked bacon with ground turkey, Cheddar cheese, egg, onion, crumbled French bread, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper; turn the turkey meatloaf mixture into prepared baking dish and form into a loaf shape in the middle of the dish.
In a medium bowl, mix ketchup, yellow mustard, and brown sugar, stirring to dissolve brown sugar. Spread the mixture over the turkey loaf. Bake the turkey loaf in the preheated oven until the juices run clear, loaf is no longer pink in the middle, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the loaf reads at least 160 degrees, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Makes 6 servings.

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Pantry Pointers

To make ground turkey crumbles, place a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and separate into crumbles. Cook until no longer pink, about 5 to 8 minutes.

Published the week of February 25, 2013

While bacon bits may have a permanent home on salad bars everywhere, their use doesn’t stop there. They are a tasty addition to everything from scrambled eggs to spinach to pizza.

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Cheddar Ranch Dip

1 16-ounce container sour cream
1 1-ounce package dry Ranch-style dressing mix
1 3-ounce can bacon bits
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

In a medium bowl, thoroughly blend the sour cream and ranch-style dressing mix. Mix in the bacon bits and Cheddar cheese. Chill in the refrigerator until flavors blend, at least 20 minutes. Makes 24 servings.

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Potato Skins

6 potatoes
8 ounces shredded Cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons bacon bits
1 16-ounce container sour cream

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan. Pierce potatoes with a fork. Microwave the potatoes on high until they are soft; approximately 10 to 12 minutes. Cut the potatoes in half vertically. Scoop the inside out of the potatoes, until 1/4 inch of the potato shell remains. Arrange shells in the prepared baking pan. Bake until crispy, about 45 minutes. Fill the shells with cheese and bacon bits; bake until cheese melts, about 5 additional minutes. Serve hot with sour cream. Makes 6 servings.

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Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf

1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 cup barbeque sauce
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 4.3-ounce package real bacon bits
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs, or as needed
4 ounces sliced processed cheese food, such as Velveeta
2 tablespoons barbeque sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 5×9-inch loaf pan. Mix ground beef, 1/2 cup barbeque sauce, milk, egg, bacon bits, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper in a bowl; stir in bread crumbs to desired consistency. Place half the ground beef mixture into the prepared loaf pan and press an indentation into the meat mixture, leaving a 1-inch rim of meat all around the indentation. Fill the indentation with processed cheese and top with remaining meat mixture. Press lightly to seal. Brush 2 tablespoons barbeque sauce over the meatloaf. Bake until juices run clear and a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf reads at least 160 degrees, about 60 to 80 minutes. Makes 6 servings.

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Pantry Pointers

To make your own bacon bits, partially freeze bacon to make it easier to slice. Cut it into 1/4-inch squares and fry over medium-high heat until done. Store leftovers in the freezer.

Many thanks to all of you that have been reading the column, checking on this site, and using the first cookbook. Happy eating to you all!