Go Smart with California Walnuts Smart Menus Program: Delicious, convenient recipes aimed at changing the way Americans eat, brought to you by best-selling author and Oprah regular Dr. Michael Roizen and James Beard award-winning cookbook author Mollie Katzen. Smart Menus is designed to help people embrace a smart eating style that’s long on taste and convenience and short on scolding. Smart recipes and tips on how to create your own smart eating style are available at www.walnuts.org/smartmenus.

Here's a spaghetti and meatballs recipe with a twist -- the healthy addition of walnuts and lean ground turkey.

6 ounces lean ground turkey
3/4 cups (3 ounces) finely ground walnuts
1/4 cup fine, dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons low cholesterol egg substitute
2 teaspoons dried basil or oregano
salt and pepper
no-stick cooking spray
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) diced, peeled tomatoes, no salt added
1/4cup tomato paste
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 ounces spaghetti
grated fat-free Parmesan cheese, if desired

To make the meatballs, in a large bowl combine the turkey, walnuts, bread crumbs, egg substitute, basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Mix thoroughly and shape into meatballs about 1 1/2 inches in diameter; you will have about 12.

Coat a large skillet or Dutch oven, preferably nonstick, with no-stick cooking spray and place over moderate heat. Add the meatballs brown them lightly on all sides. Add the onion and garlic to the meatballs and continue to cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste and oregano and bring to a boil. Reduce heat then cover the pan and simmer about 20 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, if desired.

Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling water until done. Drain well in a colander, transfer to a serving bowl and top with the tomato sauce and meatballs. Pass Parmesan cheese at the table, if desired.

Nutrition information per serving:
641 calories, 29g protein, 81g carbohydrates, 7g dietary fiber, 22g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 43mg cholesterol, 458mg sodium, 2g omega-3, 11g omega-6.