Puppy-Love Meatloaf (this one’s for you, Frank) ❤️

Tip: Cook what you love and for whom you want to show love.

Many say that food is love…I’ve said it myself, more than once. Pondering that, it’s not the food itself that equates to love. Planning and preparing food for family or friends (even unknown recipients) means I consider what they may enjoy or what may give them comfort as they recuperate or what food may prompt a pleasant memory for them. I even cook for our sweet pup, Frank, who has become a fussier eater in his elder years. I sometimes cook for myself, but mostly I prefer to cook for others. It makes me happy…and I hope it conveys my love.

Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey (93% lean)
2 large eggs
1 roasted turkey breast tender or 1 roasted large chicken breast (unseasoned)
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup low or no-sodium turkey broth
1/2 cup unsweetened, unflavored cashew milk
1 large carrot
1 large handful fresh green beans
1 small apple (or sub unsweetened chunky applesauce)
1/2 cup unsweetened canned (or home-cooked) pumpkin puree
1/4 cup flaxseed meal

Prep
In a small bowl, pour broth and cashew milk over rolled oats to soak. If oats are not covered, add enough warm water to cover. Soak for at least 20 minutes.
Chop roasted turkey or chicken breast.
Scrub carrot, then trim ends and shred. (NOTE: I used a food processor for the shredding, but finely dicing with a knife works too. Frank is very small and has only half his teeth, so I try to make things easy to eat.) 🙂
Wash green beans, remove any stem ends and shred.
Wash apple and shred (include peel).

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Put ground turkey in a large bowl. Add eggs and mix by hand or with a large fork. Drain most of liquid from oats and add oats to turkey. Add remaining prepped ingredients plus flaxseed meal. Mix lightly but thoroughly by hand or with a large fork.

Move meatloaf mixture into a casserole dish, approximately 9″X12″. Bake in preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes. Cool on a rack then cut into serving size pieces. Store in refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve to your sweet pooch.