Turkey Sausage Florentine Slow Cooker Style Food

BEST TURKEY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Crumble turkey into a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients; mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Shape into eight patties. In a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray, cook patties over medium heat until no longer pink and a thermometer reads 160°.

CLASSIC ITALIAN TURKEY MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, basil, parsley, milk, ketchup if using, tomato paste, salt, pepper, eggs, garlic and onions. Using a wooden spoon, stir to blend. Add the ground turkey and sausage meat. Using fingers, gently mix all the ingredients until thoroughly combined.
• Using a 1-ounce cookie scoop or a small ice cream scoop, form the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls (22 to 24 meatballs). Place the meatballs on a heavy nonstick baking sheet, spacing apart. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until cooked through, 15 minutes.
• For the tomato sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet with 2-inch-high sides over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, onions, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the basil, the fennel, oregano and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens slightly, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1/4 cup basil. Adjust the seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired.
• Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce and simmer until the meatballs are heated through, about 10 minutes. Thin the sauce with chicken stock, 1/4 cup at a time, if needed.
• Serve with grated Parmesan alongside.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE FLORENTINE FOR THE CROCK POT

Steps:

• Brown sausages in skillet or on grill.
• Peel and slice onions. Put in bottom of 6qt crock pot.
• If using peppers, seed and slice vertically. Layer on top of the onions.
• Pour frozen spinach into crock pot.
• Arrange sausages on top of the spinach.
• Pour spaghetti sauce evenly over top of everything.
• Cook on high for 2 hours then on low for 3-4 hours. OR, thaw the spinach first and cook on low for 6+ hours.
• Serve over pasta, over rice, or with a hearty, crusty, bread. Pass grated Parmesan at the table.
• Note -- If preparing for a party or a potluck you may wish to slice the sausage and make 2 layers of ingredients to better control the portions. This version could have shredded mozzarella incorporated into the layers and on top.

SLOW-COOKER TURKEY SAUSAGE TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add turkey sausage and ground turkey. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, breaking up with spoon, until no longer pink. Add onion and garlic; cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add wine; cook 5 minutes.
• Spray 5- to 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In slow cooker, stir together turkey mixture and remaining ingredients except spaghetti.
• Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 hours or until sauce is thickened.
• About 15 minutes before serving, cook spaghetti as directed on package. Serve sauce over spaghetti.