Turkey Noodle

This is a dish I have been making for years now. I just recently made it again at the request of the hubby! I actually had to pull the recipe up on the Food Network and reread it to get ready to cook it! I had not made this in so long; I actually forgot what went in it.  Crazy, I know!  I have taken the original Rachael Ray Turkey Noodle Casserole Recipe and modified it to fit my family’s taste and to make it a bit lighter and healthier.  Here is my version!

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• Salt
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 slices bacon, chopped
• ½ lbs. Ground Turkey
• 1 pound white mushrooms, wiped, trimmed and sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• Black pepper to taste
• Red Pepper Flake to taste
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• ½ jalapeno, minced
• 1 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for your pasta. When it boils, salt the water and cook to al dente.

Preheat a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon. Render the bacon fat 2 to 3 minutes, until bacon begins to brown at edges. Add meat, garlic, jalapeno, and thyme and brown it, crumbling it. Once the meat is cooked, remove on a plate and set aside.  In the same pan, add the olive oil and add mushrooms and onions. Cook mushrooms and onions until tender and slightly browned, then combine the meat with veggies and season the mixture liberally with salt and pepper.  Stir in stock and bring to a bubble, deglaze the pan, lifting up pan drippings and bits, then stir in cream and reduce the heat to low. Taste to adjust seasonings. Add the red pepper flake here if you like it spicy. Let the sauce cook in the meat and veggie mixture until you have a slightly thick sauce, making sure not to let all the liquid burn off. Even if the sauce looks a bit thin, once the pasta is mixed in, it will be ok. 

Add the cooked pasta into the sauce mixture, top with the parsley and enjoy! This will make roughly 6 1 cup servings!

This is a great family style pasta dish you can whip up and serve tonight! Who ever you enjoy it with, remember to take the Thyme to Savor...