Penne Pasta - and the art of working with ground turkey breast

pennebowlPenne Pasta Bolognese1 onion, chopped2 teaspoons olive oil1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried basil, oregano, marjoram)ground black pepper to taste1 pound ground very lean turkey breast1 jar low-sodium pasta sauce8 oz box penne pastaCook the pasta according to package directions; drain in colander and reserve.Chop the onion and saute in olive oil with the seasonings.Add the ground turkey breast to the pan and cook until done (when it is firm and opaque). Transfer the turkey/onion mixture to a food processor and process until fine. This is the trick to working with turkey breast - it takes it from big clumps to more fine pieces as you would have if you used ground beef.Place the turkey back in the pan and add the pasta sauce. Heat through.We like to use a pasta sauce that has no added salt. Check out the Nutrition Facts Label for this one - it only has 25 mg of sodium per serving. Most commercial sauces have upwards of 600 mg of sodium per 1/2-cup serving!!Look at how the ground turkey has a better texture after using the food processor. You can also use a blender.Add pasta and heat through.Place in bowl and top with a little shredded Parmesan and voila! Delicious lowfat meal!!Check out our food art posters:[shopify embed_type="collection" shop="nutrition-education-store.myshopify.com" product_handle="food-art-posters-2"]

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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