I feed two growing teenage swimmers everyday. One happens to be
nationally ranked. And a 15 year old boy. And a distance swimmer. Remember all the talk in 2008 about how
many calories Michael Phelps consumed everyday at the Olympics? It’s real. The amount of food consumed in my house is impressive.
Fortunately, my new recipes are welcomed and I never have to worry if anyone is
“hungry enough” to eat what I cook.
The time between school and practice everyday is open season on my
refrigerator. (And you don’t even want to know how much I pack in school
lunches everyday!) One thing I try to do is prepare hearty, healthy dishes that
can be reheated after school. This hotdish – casserole for those not from the
Midwest – is a dish that is quickly prepared- and just as quickly disappears at my
house.
- 1 pound extra-lean ground turkey
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- ½ sweet yellow onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 stalks (or more) celery, chopped
- 1 can cannellini beans
- 1 can pinto beans
- 1 can diced tomatoes (I used Italian seasoned, because it’s what I had in the pantry)
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tsp parsley
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1 cup small pasta (I used farfalline – mini bowties)
- 1 cup water
In large stockpot, sauté onion, celery, and garlic until onion and
celery are getting soft and garlic is fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add ground turkey and cook until no
longer pink, breaking up the meat with a spoon and turning often. (Note: extra lean ground turkey
contains very little fat and therefore requires a bit more attention when
browning than ground beef does, to keep it from over-browning and sticking to
the bottom of your pan.) Add both
cans of beans, tomatoes, and seasonings.
Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir
in pasta and add water. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, or until pasta is tender. Add
more water if necessary to keep the pasta submerged and the pot simmering.
Serve immediately or refrigerate and reheat later – it’s one of those dishes
that improves with time!
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