Conference turris::cooks

	I've tried it... its not that bad!  I believe they have both
	regular sausage (sweet) and hot italian sausage.  I tried the
	regular with french toast one morning.  If you like sausage
	but not all the calories its worth a try.

	Karen

Our favorite meat market has an italian sausage made with turkey and
chicken that you cannot tell from the "real" stuff....we love it.

    I just saw an ad somewhere for "turkey burgers" which were made of
    ground turkey, much resembling ground hamburger. Has anyone had these?
    		
    		Ellen

    I've never tried the turkey burgers.  Turkey sausage is OK, and the
    flavorings are great, but it will never fool anyone into thinking that
    it is "real" (pork) sausage; the meat doesn't taste the same and the
    texture is not the same either.  Won't matter much if you are crumbling
    it in a sausage or putting it in lasagna, but everyone will know
    something is peculiar if you serve it in links!

    I've used ground turkey in all kinds of recipes that call for
    ground beef - and it tastes great!  (haven't tried it for hamburgers
    though).
    
    I don't think it would taste very good plain, but when mixed with
    other ingredients (tomato sauce, spices, etc.) it's tasty.
    
    Pam

    I've never tried commercial ones but I had turkey burgers for the first
    time at a friend's barbecue a week ago and I thought they were
    wonderful.  I'll always make them with turkey from now on.  I also plan
    to try turkey meat loaf soon...
    

    I have fooled many people with ground turkey in Lasagne, Chili and
    Enchilladas!!!  I also had a VERY sceptical roommate that tried
    the lasagne knowing that it was turkey...  Even she had to admit
    that it tasted the same...
    
    On the other hand, my brother SWEARS he can taste the difference!!!
    There's always one!!! ;-)
    
    You can definitely taste the difference in meatloaf though.
    
    Lesa

    I've tried the burgers, and I prefer the "real thing".  The meatloaf
    wasn't bad, but there still was a difference.  Not much, though.
    
    What I did try the turkey in, and hubby raves about them, are my famous
    tacos!  I guess the seasoning hides the difference, but the tacos come
    out real light ... less filling.  (Sounds like a commercial  :^) 
    
    Just my opinion, but I think you really need to try for yourself.
    
    Susan

    Turkey burgers are Marvelous!
    They are best on the grill! I add barbecue sauce and liquid smoke
    to the patties before grilling them. I like them much better than
    hamburgers no grease, and they don't sit like lead in my stomach
    afterwards.
    
    Marilyn

    
    By using half lean ground beef and half ground turkey, I have fooled
    my husband with meatloaf, italian meatballs, swedish meatballs and
    stuffed peppers.  I know he would not eat ground turkey, so by doing
    half and half he doesn't know and it is some what lower in cholesterol.
    
    I can tell a little difference, but I'm sure it's more because I
    know  how I made it.
    
    Pam
    

    There is also turkey keilbasa which I like much better than
    the regular kind. There is <<no>> grease left behind and it isn't
    so rich that you can only eat a small portion.
    
    Here is one recipe:
    
    (Portions depend on how many you are sevrving
     
    New potatoes sliced (you know the little red ones)
    frozen carrot slices
    Sliced keilbasa
    Fresh lemon juice
    Parsley (flakes or fresh chopped)
    pepper
    
    Saute sausage, sliced potatoes, and carrots in casserole (no oil
    needed but add water if it sticks) till carrots are thawed and potatoes
    are tender but not mushy. Sprinkle with lemon. pepper and parsley.
    
    That's it! It sounds too simple to have any flavor but it is really
    good.
    
    

I use the spicy Turkey sausage in Spaghetti.  Folks love it!

Judy

    
    Rep .13
    
     I would think if you added fennel seeds, garlic, oregano, and some
    red pepper flakes you would have a nice Italian sausage from "plain"
    turkey sausage.
    
    
    -mike
    

    Exactly what parts of the turkey do they use when grinding turkey?  It
    occurs to me that it would not be the best parts, such as breast or
    drumsticks, etc. 
    
    Marilyn

    well, it's not lips.  :-)
    
    mostly it's thigh and leg, seldom breast meat because that draws
    premium prices.  If it has a really low fat percentage, it could
    be breast meat, but that would have a higher price.
    
    ed

Another employee and I were discussing ground turkey yesterday.  To keep the
amount of fat down she suggested buying turkey breasts while they are on
sale and having the butcher grind it.  That way you know what is or isn't
in the ground meat.

Judy K.

They also use skin and fat, which is considered meat.  The package must be
marked, usually "ground turkey meat".  So unless it says "ground turkey breast
meat," don't assume it's the lean stuff.

Also, while us corner-sewers of fine turkey consider the drumstick choice
pickins, it is considered trash meat by food processors.  I used to have a
friend in the catering business that gave away all the drumsticks from the
turkeys the cooked because it was too much work to get meat without tendons for
serving.  Needless to say, I graciously accepted all the givings-away I could
carry!   (I had legs... I knew how to use them!)

   Just wondering...

   - Jim :-)

    
    
       Most ground turkey that I have seen on the market is called ground
    turkey which means fat and skin included. This is usually listed at 90%
    lean. I beleive it would be no better for you health wise than ground
    sirloin at 90% but and its only about .50 cheaper/lb. ($1.99 vs. $2.49)
    You can but the hamburg actually cheaper in bulk. I did see some turkey
    last week listed as 98% lean which I would think was ground turket meat.
    

    you can also buy frozen ground turkey in bulk, about 5 lbs for $5.
    (the 10% fat type).
    
    ed

    
    
    I've found what seems to be ground bones in the stuff.  Haven't
    eaten it since!  It it possibel?
    
    /ab

    it could easily be cartilage, bone splinters are also easy to get into
    the mess.  It could also be bone though, the workers who cut meat are
    often paid piecework or otherwise encouraged to work very fast and some
    mistakes do occur.
    
    ed