Get-Up-Outta-Yer-Seat Turkey Meat loaf

This will serve 6 very lucky folks




Ingredients For Meat loaf:
24 ounces ground turkey (not the lean stuff)
4 large, finely chopped shallots (onion is not a completely unfortunate substitute)
8 cloves of minced garlic
3/4 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1 heaping Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
1 Tbsp fresh thyme (can substitute 1 tsp ground thyme)
1/2 tsp fresh minced rosemary
1/4 chicken or turkey stock
1/4 white wine (use extra stock if you haven't any wine)

Ingredients For Spicy Crust:
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
2 minced garlic cloves
2 tsp fresh minced rosemary
1 Tbsp bread crumbs

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all of the ingredients for the meat loaf (except stock and wine) in a large bowl. Knead the mixture with your hands until all the ingredients are blended. Don't over mix.
3. Mold the meat into a 9x5x3 inch loaf and place in the center of a 9x9 or 9x13 baking dish. Pour stock and wine around the meat (the liquids will help the meat retain moisture and extra fat from the meat loaf will run off into the extra space in the pan and can be discarded).
4. Combine the ingredients for the spicy crust and spread this paste on top of your meat loaf.
5. Place your baking dish in the oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the meat registers at 160 on a meat thermometer.

*Go berserk with your stir-ins. A meat loaf, like the ideal human, should be well-seasoned. If you have sweet potato instead of carrots, try it out. A penchant for olives or raisins? Toss them in.
*This recipe pairs well with braised leeks and has tremendous leftover potential.

Recipe by Cristina Paul