Low-Fat Turkey Cheeseburger Macaroni

Here's a recipe that's obviously inspired by a commercially boxed mix.  Only difference is that you control the amount of salt & spices, and if you use fat-free cheese slices and milk, you'll get a relatively healthier version (low-fat) than the processed mix.  So here's my take on an ordinary, everyday family dinner, Low-Fat Turkey Cheeseburger Macaroni.

(Oh, and I should point out that even though I use turkey meat for this recipe, adding the beef flavor packets really gives it a rich, beefy flavor, and you almost can't tell you're using turkey instead of beef here.)

Enjoy!  :)

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Ingredients:
1½ C elbow macaroni
1 lb ground turkey (93/7 = 93% fat-free)
2 packets Swanson Beef Flavor Packets
1 package (about 16 slices) fat-free sharp cheddar cheese
¾ C skim or 1% milk
1 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt (optional)
2-3 Tbsp canola oil, or as much as necessary to keep the turkey from sticking to your pan

Directions:
Boil the elbow macaroni in 6-8 cups of water, according to package directions for al dente. Drain, set aside, and cover to retain as much heat as possible.

In a large, deep skillet, brown the turkey over canola oil on medium-high to high heat.  Add spices (garlic and onion powders, pepper and salt). When there is no longer any pink visible, add beef flavor packets.  Stir well so that all the turkey gets coated in the beef flavor.

Turn heat down to medium.  Add cooked macaroni, then milk.  Stir vigorously for 3-4 minutes so that milk warms up.  Add cheese slices, spread out over pan, 3-4 at a time, stirring them into the macaroni/turkey mix.  Let each set melt a little before adding the next set of slices.  When all the cheese has been folded & melted it, dish is ready to serve.

Makes 10-12 servings.

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GBAdams
01/21/2012

Holiday 2011 Baking Stats

So...just for kicks I decided to see if I could sum up the "toll" of this past holiday season.  As my family and a few close friends know, I was a baking fiend starting from about November through New Year's.  Some of my family still won't find out for sure until Friday. (Hehehe...)  But in case some of you were curious as to just *how* busy this unemployed Project Manager was over the holiday, here is the estimate of my baking stats:

Different types of cookies made:	6
Total batches of all those cookie types:	27
Number of banana bread loaves made:	15
Overall number of sticks of butter used:	53
Number of eggs used:	68
Amount of vanilla used:	24 oz
Cups of sugar:	40
Total Cups of flour (est in pounds):	76 (30lbs)

...and this doesn't even count the other things that kept me busy, like cards & presents.  Needless to say, I'm a bit tired now.  LOL.  But!  Maybe my family & friends are right - a catering business or bakery really is in my future.  Hmmm....  ;)

One more thing -- Special thanks goes to my very understanding and exhausted hubby and my little man (Alex), for putting up with all my baking, cooking, and dishwashing, in order to make all those cookies and banana breads. Without my hubby watching over our little stinker most of the time over the holidays, I would not have had the ability to do all of that.  Thank you!! <3