Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf

Meatloaf. Yummy yummy meatloaf. It's such a versatile and easy dinner...just mix all the ingredients, plop in a bread loaf, then stick it in the oven. What mom doesn't like a dinner like that? Plus, you can be so sneaky and get your kids to eat their veggies by sneaking them into the loaf. So back to meatloaf, do you ever get tired of the same ol' ground beef meatloaf? Want a leaner but just as flavorful version? Well...you'll have to take my word on this one. Turkey and quinoa make for a  most delish loaf of meat. There are a few steps, but trust me, it's not hard, and it's worth it.

So to start out, cook yourself up some quinoa. You will want 1/2 cup of already cooked quinoa for this recipe. I normally will cook up 2 cups then just freeze the amount that I do not use. Then when you want some, just un-thaw it. Ok, sorry to get off the subject....back to meatloaf. Then you will want 1/2 cup cooked carrots or if you are short on time, 1/2 cup drained canned carrots.

Once you have cooked carrots and cooked quinoa you are ready to begin. Preheat oven to 350. Then start out by placing the carrots and 1/2 cup milk in a blender and hit the puree button. Blend the carrots and milk until you have a nice salmon colored sauce. Then pour in the following ingredients to the saucey mix:
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon celery seed (this ingredient is optional, but it will add a fresh zesty flavor to your loaf)

Blend mixture again then set aside.

Now dice up 1/2 of a medium sized onion and 1 celery stalk.

Now take 1 pound ground turkey burger and place in a large bowl. With your hands mix together the 1/2 cup cooked quinoa, celery, onion, and one egg. When mixture is well blended use a large spoon and mix in the carrot puree sauce. Then spoon meatloaf batter (have no clue what else to refer to the raw meat concoction other than batter) into a standard bread loaf pan. Place meatloaf in the center rack of your oven and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes. You will know when the meatloaf is finished cooking when the sides of the meatloaf pull away from the pan and top has a nice browned look. Allow your meatloaf to cool then pour off the accumulated liquid.

Serioulsy, just trust me on this one. It sounds like quite the quirky recipe, but it's so tasty, moist, and lovely twist on your standard meatloaf.

Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf

½ cup cooked quinoa

½ cup cooked carrots

½ cup milk

1 lb ground turkey burger

½ cup diced onion

1 stalk celery diced (or ½ teaspoon celery seed)

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon parsley

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon celery seed

Preheat oven to 350. Cook quinoa then set aside. Cook carrots until tender then place in a blender with the 1/2 cup milk. Puree until thoroughly blended. Add salt, parsley, celery seed, and garlic powder to the sauce and blend again. In a large bowl, using your hands, mix together turkey burger, egg, quinoa, celery and onion. Then using a large spoon stir in carrot puree mixture. Pour meatloaf batter into a regular bread loaf pan then place on the center rack in the oven. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until top is nicely golden brown and the meatloaf has pulled away from the sides of the pan. Pour off excess liquid then allow to rest 10 minutes before serving.