Turkey Meatloaf with Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Usually with meatloaf, I'm in the mindset that it's pointless to not use beef. Forget all that healthy eating junk and just use beef.

Mmmmhmmhmmmm...BEEF...

However, this is definitely a recipe that works with ground turkey. This recipe was originally stolen from Giada. Over the last year or so, Ash and I have made a few modifications, mainly involving garlic. First, I've removed the optional component. Garlic is good, garlic is great, why would you ever want it to be optional? Second, exponentially increasing the amount of garlic. It's your call but I don't really think you can go overboard with garlic. I have Giada's ingredients below and any modifications I've made have a strike-through.

Otherwise, this is a tasty ground turkey meatloaf recipe that is enhanced by the feta and sun-dried tomatoes. I haven't made this with beef yet, but I'm not sure if the wonderful beefiness flavor would overpower the more delicate sun-dried tomatoes and feta.

Also of note, as with any use of garlic, using fresh cloves is better than already minced from a jar (though this is just convenient to have). Using fresh cloves that have been roasted prior to use is exponentially better. It adds 5 minutes but the flavor just pops.


Ingredients

Vegetable olive oil cooking spray
1/2 cup plain Italian seasoning bread crumbs
1/3 1/4 cup chopped fresh dried flat-leaf parsley (dried is easier to always have on-hand)
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (plain or garlic & herb marinated work)
2 4 cloves garlic, roasted and minced, optional (seriously, who does optionally garlic?!)
2 eggs, room temperature and lightly beaten
2 tbs whole lowfat milk
1/2 3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt (Ash & I have decided to cut salt out of anything we can as anything processed has plenty. The sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese and bread crumbs have more than enough.)
1 2 tsp ground pepper
1 lb ground turkey


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a bread-loaf pan with the olive oil cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, mix everything together except the ground turkey. Fold in the turkey until just mixed. Do not overmix the meatloaf.
3. Pack the meat into the bread-loaf pan and bake uncovered for at least 45 minutes. You want an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let rest for a few minutes and then enjoy.