Everyone Around the Table

Like most parents, I am forever struggling to put something on the table that everyone in the family will like, that’s healthy and that doesn’t keep me slaving in the kitchen either with the preparation or cleanup.  In my efforts to get some new ideas, I came across the  Jennie-O Turkey Store website, www.jennieo.com, which was chock full of recipes that are far from a typical turkey dinner.

My kids are big fans of bratwurst so the Jennie-O Turkey Bratwurst with Cucumber and Onion Relish caught my eye. It

sounded like it would make the brat-lovers happy but would also appeal to an adult’s more sophisticated tastes with that relish. They were really good and I’ll be using that relish with other dishes.  Toasting the buns was a good, crunchy foil to the juicy brat and cool relish.

Another night, I made Spicy Turkey Sloppy Joes (see photo above). I have fond memories of Sloppy Joes in elementary school so I was interested to see how a turkey version would taste.  The recipe was super-easy and came together in one skillet (easy clean-up for  the cook).  I served them with tomatoes, lettuce and red onion slices for those who wanted it, plus veggies and fries.

With both meals, I didn’t advertise to the family that we were having turkey instead of beef or pork. I didn’t tell them that we were trying out turkey because it’s healthier for them. Just mention the word “healthy” associated with any food and my kids will refuse to eat it. Instead, I just served it up and they *ahem* gobbled it up. (Sorry just couldn’t resist!)

With a wide variety of turkey from deli meat to sausage to turkey breast slices, you could translate most of your favorite recipes to use turkey instead. I’m going to keep giving it a try.

To give readers of the E.A.T. blog an opportunity to try one of the many products from Jennie-O, I have two $5 off coupons to give away to two blog readers.  To enter for your chance to win one of the valuable coupons:

1. Subscribe to the E.A.T. blog (see “We deliver to your inbox” above, right) and then leave a comment telling me that you did (or let me know that you are already a subscriber).   

OR

2. Add a comment telling us about a recipe in which you have swapped turkey in place of beef , pork or lamb.