Turkey Sausage Patties

For the past 2 years, I've been eating the same breakfast almost every day: oatmeal. And 2 years ago was when I discovered oatmeal. When I had a meal plan at my school, I ate the Quaker's instant oatmeal. They had the usual suspects: apple cinnamon, maple and brown sugar, and cinnamon and spice. I never touched the original. I looked forward to waking up in the morning to have my oatmeal on toast with cream cheese (or to mix it up, peanut butter). Now I live off campus at a house and am able to cook old-fashioned oatmeal. Not the healthiest I could be, but still a step up from instant and super quick to cook up. But then I got lazy and gave up on the toast and the cream cheese a while ago and now I eat just plain oatmeal so of course I'm not as excited about breakfast as I used to be. So I thought I should try to incorporate more variety, such as fruits, into my breakfast and also more protein. Eggs? Too much time for me in the morning (I know, lazy). How about sausage patties? It can't get any easier than just popping one in the microwave. Instead of buying sausage patties that I would be really suspicious of, I was determined to make my own with flavors and vegetables that I wanted. And I know what's in it! Nothing to be suspicious of. I mixed all the ingredients together and refrigerated it overnight so that all I had to do in the morning was cook them. I was so hungry when I woke up this morning, but I had to cook the patties first! An hour later, I was ready to eat my new and somewhat improved breakfast.



Turkey Sausage Patties [Makes about 22 flat 2-inch wide patties]
Adapted from Itsy Bitsy Foodies

- 1/2 small onion
- 1/4 yellow bell pepper
- 1/4 green bell pepper
- 5 baby carrots
- 1.3 pound ground turkey
- 1 1/2 tbsp dried parsley flakes
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1. Place onion, bell peppers, and carrots in food processor. Pulse until finely diced. Squeeze out excess juice from veggies.
2. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
3. Shape into balls and flatten with hands. Place in pan on medium heat and cook the first side for 30 seconds. Flip and cook for 1 minute. Flip again and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, flipping in between.






So easy to make and really flavorful. I reduced the amount of fennel seeds only because I had never tasted it before and did not want to ruin the food if I ended up not liking it, but I think it's the perfect amount for me. I would definitely make this again, maybe even with chicken next time. As for now, the rest of the patties are wrapped in wax paper and in the freezer, awaiting their doom :)