April 27, 2017

Lighten Up With Canadian Turkey!

canadian turkey
You already know that Canadian turkey tastes delicious, but did you know it's a nutritional powerhouse? Turkey is considered a quality protein with about 30 grams of protein in every 100 gram serving – it's lean and nutrient-rich, too. This means that it has a lot of nutrients per calorie. Turkey is a lighter choice compared to some other holiday meats, for example, prime rib. With all the delicious recipes available, your family won't even realize you're making healthier choices!

One way to get more of this power protein into your everyday meals is to "Try It With Turkey!" Just swap Canadian turkey for the meat protein in any of your tried and true recipes. This versatile choice will work with all of your family's favourite dishes, and you'll find that turkey pairs well with a variety of flavour profiles and seasonings, so you can feel free to use it in any recipe!

Your local butcher or grocer will have a variety of turkey parts available so you can try Canadian turkey any day of the week. Thighs, breasts, drumsticks, sausages and ground turkey are all readily available, making it super easy to include turkey in every meal - breakfast, lunch or dinner. Turkey is also very economical, with a single turkey offering options to create several meals for a family of four. After all, who doesn't need help watching dollars and cents! 
canadian turkey
It's so easy to cook with nutritious and delicious Canadian turkey that it will become your go-to choice when planning your family meals. Remember to swap Canadian turkey into your upcoming celebration meals, too! Healthy and delicious turkey is perfect for occasions like Mother's Day, Victoria Day, Father's Day, and for festive family gatherings like spring communions, confirmations, and graduations. Just by choosing turkey, you will lighten up any meal, without compromising flavour. Canadian Turkey makes it simple to lighten up your meals with all the recipes and HOW TOs you need. 

Serves: 4
Prep time: 15 mins.
Cook time: 25 mins.


Spring Veggie, Herb Pesto and Turkey Pasta


300 grams penne pasta
1 lb turkey breast, cut into 1 inch chunks
Salt and pepper to taste
¾ cup frozen peas
1 bunch asparagus, 12-14 stalks
1 tbsp butter [optional]
For herb pesto:
¼ cup parsley
¼ cup basil
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
½ garlic clove
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil


Season turkey with salt and pepper. Sauté in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes per side. Set aside.
Steam or boil asparagus until cooked through but still a little crisp, 5-7 minutes. Chop roughly.
Cook peas according to package instructions.
Make pesto: blend all ingredients with a food processor or hand blender. Pesto can be made ahead of time.
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before you drain the pasta, make sure to reserve ½ cup of cooked pasta water.
As soon as pasta is drained, toss with butter (if using), 1/3 cup pasta water, vegetables and pesto sauce. Add additional pasta water if pasta starts to dry out.
Serve immediately.


TIP: Double or triple your pesto recipe to keep on hand. It makes a great sauce to top grilled turkey, steamed veggies or a salad. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days after you make it or up to 3 months in the freezer.

Just visit www.canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration and for more information on the nutritional benefits of using turkey as an alternate OR the preferred protein in your recipes!
canadian turkey
Giveaway
If you are in Canada you can win $75 e-gift card for Hudson's Bay (also redeemable at Home Outfitters and thebay.com) by entering the giveaway through the rafflecopter below before May 19th. Please follow my social media networks and leave comments to be eligible to win.
Update: The winner is Amy
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Canadian Turkey. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2010 - 2017. Please Ask First For reviews and/or sponsored posts on this site I may have received special perks as part of my affiliation. Please note that all opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.

72 comments:

  1. Newfoundland canada. I can use turkey to lighted up my meals by using it in place of chicken in Tacos and more! YUM! Thanks!

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  2. Ontario! You can pretty much use turkey in place of most other meats. I really like that Scallopini recipe with kale, sounds delicious!

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  3. I live in ON, and I can use turkey to lighten up my chili.

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  4. I live in NL and I would use the turkey in salads and soups. I like to try the Rustic Colombian Turkey Soup.
    Florence Cochrane

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  5. I live in SK and the last turkey leftovers I had soup, stir fry and a pot pie (I still have a little bit of the soup left at work for todays lunch)

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  6. I live in Ontario. I could use turkey to lighten up the calories for our tacos.

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  7. I'm in Alberta. I can use turkey in practically anything to lighten up a meal, I'd like to try the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA, which sounds delicious. :-)

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  8. I live in Ontario
    CRISPY PANKO TURKEY CUTLETS WITH ASIAN SLAW sound so good & something I would make.

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  9. I live in Manitoba and use turkeys in wraps or tacos

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  10. I'm in Ontario! Turkey can be used to replace lots of different meats, for example, turkey meatballs with spaghetti!

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  11. I live in BC and I'd like to try turkey in a meatloaf.
    jan

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  12. I'm from Ontario.
    I would turkey to lighten up my meals by using ground turkey in place of ground beef in my slow cooker lasagna recipe.

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  13. I'm in BC and I use turkey to lighten up meals by substituting it for ground beef! Turkey Chili.....Turkey Pasta Sauce, etc.

    Rafflecopter Name is Anne Taylor

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  14. I live in Alberta and we use turkey in pasta dishes, soups and wraps

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  15. I live in Newfoundland and i love to use Turkey to lighten up my soups and pies.

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  16. I live in Ontario and I would make SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

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  17. I live in Ontario.
    I would use turkey in my soups,salads ans wraps

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  18. I am in Ontario and I make a Turkey Stew!

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  19. I live in NB and I would lighten up our tacos with turkey.

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  20. I live in Ontario. I can use ground turkey in my meatloaf.

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  21. I'm from ON and the OVEN-BAKED TURKEY EGGPLANT PARMESAN looks like the perfect way to lighten up our spring!

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  22. I live in BC! I'm going to lighten up my pasta dishes with ground turkey instead of beef!

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  23. I'm in Manitoba. I'd love to make the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA. This will lighten up my meals as I won't be using a heavy tomato sauce and beef meatballs. The pesto is perfect for a light spring meal!

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  24. I live in Ontario and use turkeys in wraps or tacos

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  25. I live in Nl. I can use turkey to make some light turkey burgers on the bbq,,easy and yummy!

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  26. I live in Alberta, and I can use turkey to lighten up my salads! I just use ground turkey yesterday for Tacos.

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  27. I live in Alberta and I can use Turkey to lighten up my meals by grilling it and adding it to salad :)

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  28. I live in Nova Scotia and I can and do use turkey to lighten up meals like chili, spaghetti, tacos and fajitas!

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  29. I'm in New Brunswick, and I could use ground turkey instead of beef in chili.

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  30. Ontario! I would love to make the ONE POT FRENCH FARMHOUSE TURKEY BRAISE at the trailer. I think this would be great made in the slow cooker.

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  31. I live in Saskatchewan. I would use it in meatloaf.

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  32. I live in Ontario and I use ground turkey in my chili instead of beef, I also use turkey to lighten up soups, stews, in sandwiches & wraps and our favourite turkey divan casseroles.

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  33. I live in BC and could use Canadian Turkey to lighten up our taco nights! Would especially work well for one of my kids who doesn't like red meat but LOVES turkey - she'd love this change to one of our regular meals!

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  34. I live in Ontario and I would lighten up my meals by making salads and pasta with turkey.I really like and want to tryt the Turkey Apple & Kale Grain salad.

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  35. I live in Ontario and I could lighten my meals like pasta with turkey as in the recipe ...SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA

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  36. I am from Ontario and I would lighten up my meals by making turkey burgers instead of beef burgers. The Apple Cheddar Turkey Burgers sound yummy! (Judy Cowan)

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  37. I am in BC and I could lighten up my meals with turkey by adding more of it in a dish in place of carbs like the Turkey Noodle Casserole.

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  38. I am in BC. I would use Turkey in my meatloafs to lighten them up.

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  39. Reside in Alberta. Low Carb - Health lifestyle choices. Ideal Meal - Romaine Lettuce boats filled with diced turkey, mushrooms, grated carrots and topped with shaved cheese. A family favorite x 3.

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  40. I live in Ontario and I Like to use turkey to lighten up Chili !

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  41. I live in Ontario and I like to use ground turkey to lighten up my lasagne! :)

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  42. from ontario and we could lighten up our meals by eating turkey burgers

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  43. I'm in Ontario and the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA looks good.

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  44. Debbie White BeattieMay 5, 2017 at 11:45 PM

    I live in Ontario and the SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA looks delicious

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  45. I live in Ontario and I would make shredded turkey tacos to lighten things up a bit.

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  46. I live in NS and I use turkey in place of meat in casseroles and salads and pitas.

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  47. AB; substituting turkey for beef will lighten up meals. turkey meatloaf is a real favourite here. thanks

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  48. I live in AB and I like to use ground turkey to replace ground beef. It really lightens up lasagna, meatloaf and burgers.

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  49. SPRING VEGGIE, HERB PESTO AND TURKEY PASTA sounds like a good recipe. Saskatchewan

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  50. I live in Ontario. I can use turkey in tacos instead of ground beef. (entered as Stephanie)

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  51. I live in alberta and would use ground turkey to lighten up my lasagna and meatloaf.

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  52. I live in Ontario
    I use turkey in

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  53. I live in Ontario. I would use turkey to make the Turkey Tacos!
    ~Andrea

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  54. I live in southwestern Ontario.
    I like the idea of using turkey for a salad meal like this recipe:
    TURKEY APPLE & KALE GRAIN SALAD

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  55. I live in BC. I use turkey to lighten up my meals by using it in wraps for my lunch!

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  56. I live in Ontario. I would lighten my meal with a Grilled Turkey Scallopini with Kale Walnut Pesto. Perfect healthy spring meal.

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  57. I live in Ontario and use turkey to lighten up my burgers!

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  58. I am in Ontario and I use turkey to lighten up my homemade burgers and to make turkey marsala.

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  59. I live in Ontario. I regularly buy deli turkey - I get it shaved and then add it to salads for work lunches. It's lean, tastes great, and is a good source of protein.

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  60. I live in ON. Turkey is great on the grill, we love turkey wraps all summer long!

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  61. I'm in British Columbia and I can lighten up a meal by replacing fatty red meats with lean ground turkey, like in the Turkey Spaghetti Meat Sauce recipe!

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  62. I live in MB and could use ground turkey in place of ground beef for meatballs!

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  63. I'm from Ontario, and will use the turkey to make grilled burgers!

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  64. I live in Ontario. I enjoy making turkey meatballs.

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  65. rural Ontario and I like making turkey soup

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  66. I live in Manitoba. Highwood used turkey instead of beef to make spaghetti and meatballs.

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  67. I'm from PEI and I use turkey ground in my burgers.

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  68. I'm in BC and I like using turkey in pasta to lighten it up.

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  69. I am in Ontario. I like to use turkey in my pasta sauce.

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  70. I live in Ontario and I would use turkey as a base for my pasta to lighten it up

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  71. I live in Nova Scotia. I could use turkey in a recipe such as Spring Veggie, Herb Pesto and Turkey Pasta, to lighten up my meals. Also, turkey can substitute for other meat in most recipes.

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  72. I made this Canadian turkey tonight and followed the recipe. It was wonderful…thank you for posting!

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Thank you for commenting :)