recipe: easy-peasy polenta

like always, the husband and I are going in a million different directions, and rarely with each other.

I don't always cook, but I usually try to have some meals planned out and ask the husband to make one or two of them during the week (he gets home from work before me.)

The kind of meals we like are: a) healthy b) fast and easy. (well, let's be honest. The husband doesn't really care how healthy they are.)

I am always on a kick to try something new, so I was excited when I discovered polenta. It's easy, it's different and if you cook it right, it's sort of healthy.


You can buy polenta premade but if you have 20 minutes to spare, you can make it from scratch for pennies.

Polenta with tomato sauce and italian sausage
polenta:
1 cup water
2 cups broth
3/4 cup polenta

Bring liquid to a boil, slowly stir in polenta and reduce heat, constantly stirring until thickened (10 to 15 minutes)

Pour onto bowls or plates and let cool.  (alternatively, you can pour it into a pan, and let chill until it becomes solid, and then fry it or bake it to make polenta squares.)
 
sauce + veggies + meat:
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 ground italian sausage (I use ground chicken sausage)
1 minced garlic
veggies-- you can use anything-- I toss in red bell pepper and zucchini, but you could also add
olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc
- 1 jar low sodium tomato sauce
- optional: freshly grated parm-reggiano cheese, torn fresh basil leaves


Sautee onions until translucent over medium heat in a large frypan
Add garlic, saute for a minute
Stir in italian sausage, breaking up with a spatula and cook until no longer pink
Stir in chopped veggies and sauce, stir until cooked through.


Pour over polenta and serve with grated cheese and torn basil on top and a side salad.

have a glorious start to your week!

xo, erika