Food Network Fanatic!

I don't watch much TV, but when I do find the occasional half-hour to relax on the couch, you can usually find me watching Food Network. I love to cook and bake, so watching these superstar cooks whip up a delicious meal in thirty minutes is quite entertaining!

My favorite Food Network star is Giada De Laurentiis. I like her because not only is her food delectable and rich, she's a girl who loves to eat and maintains a great physique!

I've tried many of Giada's dishes, but this one definitely makes top ten- Turkey Meatloaf with Sundried Tomatoes and Feta. I love to use ground turkey because it is a lot leaner (if you purchase ground turkey breast) than beef. If you're a beef or chicken lover, feel free to substitute!

The salty bite of the feta cheese really takes boring, old meatloaf up to the next level! The sundried tomatoes add a little sweetness, which I love. There are also a lot of yummy, extra goodies in this dish. Please try it, it is easy and DELICIOUS! You can substitute gorganzola or blue cheese for the feta, and any type of pepper (bell pepper, jalapeños etc) for the sundried tomatoes. Serve it alongside anything you want- I'm thinking something like garlic mashed potatoes!

This is a protein-packed meal, so it's perfect for dinner after a strenuous workout!

Enjoy!

Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Ingredients
Vegetable cooking spray
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes
2 cloves garlic, minced, optional
2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound ground turkey

Directions
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, if using, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper. Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.

Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice. Put on a serving platter and serve.