Skillet casserole perfect for leftover turkey

This is a great way to serve leftover turkey. It's a one pot meal - a hearty casserole of turkey, mushrooms and pasta with a light touch. The pasta cooks right in the sauce. Serve it in the casserole dish right from the stove. All you need is a tossed salad to complete the meal. Add any leftover vegetables you have on hand to the salad.

You can also use cooked turkey from the deli. Look for a low-sodium roasted turkey breast. Ask for it to be cut in one thick piece. It will be easier to cut into bite-sized pieces.

Helpful Hints:

' Any type of reduced-fat cheese can be used.

' Any type of sliced mushrooms can be used.

' Other whole wheat pasta shapes can be used instead of linguine.

Countdown:

' Prepare ingredients.

' Make casserole.

' While casserole cooks, assemble salad.

TURKEY SKILLET CASSEROLE

Yield 2 servings.

10 ounces cooked turkey breast, skin removed

Olive oil spray

1 cup chopped onion

2 medium garlic cloves, crushed

3/4 cup low-fat, low-sodium pasta sauce

1 cup water

2 cups sliced Portobello mushrooms

2 ounces whole wheat linguine, broken into 4- to 5-inch pieces

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup reduced-fat, shredded, sharp cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream

Cut turkey into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray with olive oil spray. Add onion and garlic. Saute 3 minutes. Add the turkey, pasta sauce, water, mushrooms and pasta. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir to mix well. Bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with a lid and cook, stirring once or twice, until the pasta is cooked, about 15 minutes. Add a little more water if sauce is dry before pasta is cooked. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the cheese on top. Spoon sour cream over cheese.

Per serving: 454 calories (23% from fat), 11.5 g fat (2.8 g saturated, 3.1 g monounsaturated), 101 mg cholesterol, 52.1 g protein, 40.8 g carbohydrates, 6.5 g fiber, 301 mg sodium.

Source: Linda Gassenheimer

TOSSED SALAD

Yield: 2 servings

4 cups washed, ready-to-eat green salad

2 tablespoons reduced-fat oil and vinegar dressing

Place salad in a bowl and toss with dressing.

Per serving: 27 calories (41% from fat), 1.2 g fat (0.1 g saturated,0.3 g monounsaturated),1 mg cholesterol, 1.2 g protein, 3.8 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 12 mg sodium.

Source: Linda Gassenheimer