Gluten Free Sun Dried Tomato, Feta Turkey Meatloaf

Giada De Laurentiis was making this unique meat loaf the other day as I was watching Food Network (which I could watch all day). The flavors seemed like they would go well together and I love to make meat loaf with ground turkey, to make it a lighter more healthy meal. I served this with a great broccoli artichoke casserole and mashed potatoes. But try this recipe for a new twist on meat loaf. I made a few tweaks from the original recipe. Obviously replacing the bread crumbs with gluten free bread. Here is the original recipe.

Turkey Meatloaf with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese

Ingredients

1/2 cup gluten free bread crumbs ( I used Udi's gluten free bread)
1/2 cup thawed frozen spinach
1/4 cup marinated sun dried tomatoes, chopped
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 cup feta cheese ( you can add more if you love it)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper
1 pound ground turkey

1. Preheat oven 375
2. Grease 9x5 inch loaf pan
3. In a large bowl combine bread crumbs, spinach, tomatoes, garlic, eggs, milk, cheese, salt and pepper.
4. Add the ground turkey and work mixture until blended but do not over mix.
5. Put turkey mixture into prepared pan.
6. Bake for 45 minutes at 375, let rest for 5 minutes out of the oven.
7. Slice and serve

Give a person a fish, and you feed them for a day. Teach a person how to fish, and you feed them for a lifetime.

This post is not going to be related to a gluten free lifestyle, but I wanted to do my part to spread the word about this amazing ministry that was presented to me the other day. Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves".

I went to eat lunch with my sister-in-law and she had a really cute shirt on that said 147 million orphans. I was asking her about the 147 million orphan ministry and as we were talking about it at Chick-Fil-A right behind us came one of the founders of the program and her beautiful kids. I felt like this was God's way of opening up my eyes to the conditions in Uganda, and the number of orphans in the world. 147 million orphans raises money for families who want to adopt, it supports feeding programs, and each purchase goes towards feeding a child in the poverty stricken countries like Uganda. They offer shirts, hats, and necklaces. Visit here to find out more 147 Million Orphans


Katie is a young 21 year old girl that decided to go to Uganda, and ended up staying and adopting 14 Ugandan girls. Katie has started a school, and a feeding program feeding 1200 people in Uganda.
After reading Katie's blog, I am moved to tears after seeing how much she has given up, and steped out of her comfort zone to answer Gods calling. She has not only taken in 14 young girls to raise and love, she has taught the women of the village how to make necklaces with beads out of magazine paper. The necklaces are then sold here in America at many locations in Nashville and the money is sent back to the ladies. She is not only feeding these people but teaching them a trade to provide income for their families. You might not be able to adopt a child, or spend time in Uganda but support the cause by purchasing items or donating to support this God centered ministry.

Traveling Gluten Free

Traveling gluten free can be  intimidating. It is always a good idea to pack lots of gluten free snacks in the car, just in case you find yourself in a place with no GF offerings. Apples, trail mix, gluten free rice cakes, peanut butter, and Larabars are always road trip staples. Chick-Fil-A is usually a stop we make on the road that has a few gluten free options like a grilled chicken and fruit salad. Oh and an added bonus their waffle fries are gluten free:) Zoe's Kitchen is a more leisurely stop we took this time and they have many locations offering healthy gluten free items.

While in Florida I have been very successful at eating out without getting glutened. Most restaurants offer a grilled or pan seared fish, and steamed vegetables. Just make sure to talk to a cook in the kitchen to make sure they understand how cross contamination works. I usually compare it to an allergy that way they understand. I was so shocked when one of our favorite restaurants at the beach, handed me a gluten free menu. So if you are in Pensacola you should definitely eat at Hemingways, I had mahi-mahi, spaghetti squash and asparagus. The kitchen staff is very aware of the gluten free diet and the best part is I did not get sick. One night we did a major shopping trip and decided to go to Chili's, who also have a gluten free menu.

So before leaving home, it is smart to see what dining options are in the neighborhood, and call to talk to a few places to see if they can accommodate you if they do not have a gluten free menu.

Breads from Anna

I recently conducted a cooking demonstration on how to make gluten free bread. The generous people at Breads from Anna donated a few bread mixes for me to demonstrate in my Cusinart bread machine. These mixes taste great, and as an added bonus are also nutritious! Breads from Anna uses a nutritious gluten free flour blend that includes chick pea flour, pinto bean flour, navy bean flour, and montina flour. This is a pleasant change compared to many gluten free products that are made of starches and white rice flour. All 50 people in the cooking class were blown away by the flavor of this whole grain bread. Breads from Anna mixes are available on line for purchase and at some health food stores. Click the link above to visit their website to order yours today!