In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until golden, being careful not to burn. Then, add crushed tomatoes, onion, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and bay leaf. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cover and let simmer on low for 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, garlic, and cheese. Using wet hands, mix all the ingredients well until everything is combined. Form small meatballs, about the size of a ping pong ball (1/8th cup each).
Brown the meatballs in a skillet or in the broiler on a sheet pan until the tops are golden, about 7 to 8 minutes. Alternatively, you can bake them in the oven at 400°F for about 18 to 20 minutes. If you want to save time, gently plop them right into the sauce without browning.
Add the meatballs to the sauce and simmer on low for about 20 minutes, covered. Discard the bay leaf and onion and serve over pasta or whole wheat Italian bread.
