Maple Bacon Turkey Meatballs with Butternut Squash & Spiced Walnuts

[Sincerely-Food-Chef]

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon
• 2 small butternut squash
• ½ small pkg fresh thyme
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 (1 inch) pieces ginger root
• 1 ½ lb ground turkey
• ½ cup walnuts
• black pepper
• cinnamon, ground
• cumin, ground
• pure maple syrup
• salt
• virgin coconut oil

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F and position rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Wash the butternut squash. Trim off and discard the ends of the squash; halve the squash lengthwise and scrape out the seeds from each half. Peel and cut into ½-inch cubes, about 2 cups per person.
   • 2 small butternut squash
3. Wash and dry thyme. Slide leaves off the stems; discard the stems.
   • ½ small pkg fresh thyme
4. In a small saucepan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat. Add maple syrup, cinnamon, thyme and salt. Stir to combine then remove from the heat and add to a medium bowl.
   • 2 tbsp virgin coconut oil
   • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
   • ¼ tsp cinnamon
   • ¼ tsp salt
5. Roughly chop walnuts and add to bowl with the coconut oil and spices.
   • ½ cup walnuts
6. Add butternut squash pieces to bowl. Toss to coat and spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet.
7. Peel and mince the garlic. Peel and mince or grate the ginger. Add to a medium bowl.
   • 4 cloves garlic
   • 2 (1 inch) pieces ginger root
8. Add ground turkey to the bowl with the garlic and ginger.
   • 1 ½ lb ground turkey
9. Mince bacon and add to ground turkey.
   • 6 slices bacon
10. Season turkey and bacon with cumin, salt and pepper and stir to combine.
    • ½ tsp cumin
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ tsp black pepper
11. Form meat mixture into 2-inch size meatballs and place on top of squash.
12. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until meatballs are golden brown and cooked through and squash is soft.
13. To serve, divide squash, spiced walnuts and meatballs between plates. Enjoy!