Meaty Baked Rontini

One thing I really like about the Trim Healthy Mama approach to eating, is that I don't have to deprive myself of some of my favorite things.

Like the other night when I was craving something Italian. I wanted meaty. I wanted cheesy. And I wanted pasta.

Oh, I just love it when I can have my cake and eat it to.

Try this on for size.

Okay, now that I've tempted you, let's go back to the beginning.

Let's start with:

• One package sweet Italian turkey sausage
• One package lean ground turkey
• 1 - 24 oz. jar no sugar added pasta/spaghetti sauce
• (optional) 1 can diced tomatoes (I ended up not using them)
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Half an onion, diced
• half a bell pepper, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 oz. (or more) Dreamfields rotini
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• basil
• oregano
• salt
• pepper

While our pasta is cooking to al dente, we're going to cook our meat until browned, along with the onion, bell pepper and garlic.

Yep, that looks good.

Drain, if necessary.

Now stir in half of the pasta sauce, some basil, oregano, salt and pepper to taste, red pepper flakes and approximately half a cup of the Parmesan cheese.

I love Parmesan and it adds a great flavor.

Your pasta should be done about now. Drain it and put it into a large bowl.

Now why did I use Dreamfields? Not only because it tastes great, has protein and fiber, but it's made with a patented process that actually makes the carbs look like protein under a microscope. No spikes in our glycemic level. And our bodies are never the wiser. :) The cool thing about Dreamfields is that it's available at Walmart AND it's not expensive. It actually costs less than the Barilla Plus I've been buying for years. 

That said, my meat to pasta ratio was significantly higher in meat. I used about ten ounces of pasta, but I could have used the whole 13 point something ounce box and been just fine.

You, my friend, are allowed to use whatever pasta you like and as much as you like. 

But you are now informed. :)

I added the rest of the sauce to the pasta, along with some more Parmesan.

Stir that together.

Then add half of the meat mixture...

Before pouring into an oblong baking dish.

Top that with some grated mozzarella and Parmesan.

Then the rest of the meat.

And a final sprinkling of mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

While that's cooking, make your salad.

G'head. However you like it.

It's a virtual salad bar here at the cafe, so you can pile on whatever you please.

And, if you're in a hurry like we were, you go ahead and eat the salad.

But the wait is worth it.

Boy, did this hit the spot. I loved it, hubby loved it, the kids loved it, the dogs...

Well, they didn't get any. But they loved the smell of it. :)

And speaking of dogs, Maddie is getting bigger and she's been learning some new tricks.