Mara's Loaded Waystation Pizza Bake

Ingredients

• 1 pound 99% lean ground turkey
• 1 cup cooked spaghetti squash, thoroughly drained and gently squeezed of excess moisture
• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup no-added-sugar pizza sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed fennel seed
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Black pepper to taste, optional
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Optional tolerated pizza toppings in measured amounts: turkey pepperoni, cooked crumbled bacon, mushrooms, bell pepper, olives, or onion

Directions

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 375°F / 191°C. Lightly coat four 2-cup oven-safe glass meal-prep containers with nonstick spray. Remove the lids before baking.

2. 2

   Place the turkey in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian seasoning, fennel, garlic powder, paprika, and optional black pepper. Break the meat into very fine crumbles and cook until no pink remains and the turkey reaches 165°F / 74°C. If it begins to dry, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons water.

3. 3

   Blend the cottage cheese until completely smooth. Stir it together with the pizza sauce.

4. 4

   Divide the drained spaghetti squash equally among the four containers, using 1/4 cup per container. Divide the cooked turkey equally over the squash; each container receives the cooked portion made from 4 ounces raw turkey.

5. 5

   Spoon one-quarter of the cottage-cheese pizza sauce into each container and top each with 2 tablespoons mozzarella. Add only measured, tolerated optional toppings.

6. 6

   Place the uncovered containers on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, until hot and the cheese has melted. Let the containers cool briefly before handling.

7. 7

   One reference meal is one complete container, one-quarter of the batch and approximately 1 cup. Begin with the turkey-and-cheese bites, take small bites, chew thoroughly, and stop when comfortably satisfied.

8. 8

   The displayed nutrition applies only to the base recipe. If pepperoni, bacon, extra cheese, olives, or other toppings are added, recalculate the nutrition and allergens with the exact quantities and brands used.

9. 9

   Cool the meals promptly, cover, and refrigerate within 2 hours. Keep at 40°F / 4°C or colder and use within 3 to 4 days. Reheat covered, adding 1 teaspoon water or sauce if needed, until the center reaches 165°F / 74°C. Do not reheat a chilled glass container unless its manufacturer permits it.