FOOD FOR TOTS: Turkey-Rice Loaf

posted by Andrea of Mom-enclature

I created this recipe last night. My 3-year old daughter Cricket  kept saying "Yum, yum turkey loaf" and she actually asked for seconds.  She very rarely eats any type of meat, but she gobbled up this turkey and rice loaf. I think the orangey color and slightly spicy/tangy taste appealed to her.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked rice of any type (you might also use cooked barley or quinoa)
• ¾ pounds ground turkey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 small onion; minced
• 1 splash Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce (or any BBQ sauce  - or double up on the ketchup and add two splashes of Worcestershire sauce)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Kitchen Tools/Appliances:

1. Medium sauce pan
2. Skillet
3. 9-inch loaf pan
4. Measuring cups and spoons
5. Range top 
6. Oven
7. Two optional mixing bowls

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cook the rice according to the directions on the package.
3. While the rice is cooking, heat olive oil in a medium skillet and saute the minced onion until tender, about 3 minutes.
4. Add the ground turkey and brown, crumbling as you go. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drain the grease. Let cool.
5. When the rice is cooked and cooled, combine rice and turkey  (either in the rice pan or in a separate mixing bowl)
6. Add the egg to the rice/turkey mixture and mix well. Add ketchup, BBQ sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well.
7. Ladle rice/turkey mixture into loaf pan.
8. Cook for 30 minutes in pre-heated oven.

What your tot can do to help:

1. Measure the rice and water.
2. Pour the water and rice into the pan and stir.
3. Mix together rice and turkey mixture.
4. Squirt the ketchup and BBQ sauce in a separate mixing bowl, add the Worcestershire sauce and mix together. Not a requirement, but squirting ketchup bottles make such a fun sound.