Fried Egg and Polenta Stacks with Pesto and Spinach

This tasty lunch came about because I have been wanting to eat healthier lunches. I have been trying to get in more dark greens and I really thought this combination would be fantastic. It was. It came together really quickly too. First I sauteed the spinach and divided it between 2 plates. Then I fried 2 eggs in a very minimal amount of butter. I put one on each plate of spinach and then I sliced my polenta and warmed it in the same pan, I used for the spinach and eggs and melted a little cheese on top. Simple as can be. I topped each stack with a little dollop of pesto and enjoyed a healthy lunch and I was nice enough to share the other stack with a very lucky family member.

Fried Egg and Polenta Stacks with Pesto and Spinach by Mary Ann

serves 2

1 bag baby spinach

fresh lemon juice

garlic powder

2 eggs

2 tsp butter

1 log polenta

shredded cheese ( I used an Italian blend)

2 tsp pesto

Heat an electric skillet to medium high. Spray with cooking spray. Add spinach. Season with a little lemon juice, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Saute until wilted and divide between 2 plates.

Melt the butter in the same skillet you used for the spinach and add 1 one to each spot of butter. When egg is cooked enough to turn, then turn it over and cook until the yolk is how you like it (Cooked through for me!) Season with a little pepper and place 1 fried egg on each plate of spinach.

Slice polenta into 1/2-inch slices and cook in same pan you used for the eggs. Cook for a few minutes on each side, until browned. When the polenta is on the 2nd side, sprinkle cheese on top and let it melt.

Place polenta slice on top of egg.

Top each polenta slice with a tsp or so of pesto.

Up next- Craving Ellie- Greek Stuffed Peppers and Barefoot Bloggers- Chicken Piccata

Roasted Vegetable Gratin

Basically if I see a recipe that has butternut squash in it, I am determined to make it. My family has started teasing me about it, because we eat alot of squash. What can I say? It is delicious. I saw this beautiful dish in Family Circle and immediately put it on the menu. It was delicious. Wonderful. I love roasted vegetables and polenta. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Roasted Vegetable Gratin from Family Circle Magazine
Ingredients
1 small butternut squash (about 2-1/2 pounds), peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 medium parsnips (about 1 pound), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large sweet red pepper, cored, seeded and sliced into 1/4-inch strips
1 medium red onion, peeled and cut into 1-inch wedges
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tube (18 ounces) heat-and-serve polenta
1/4 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup shredded Asiago cheese
8 sprigs fresh thyme
Directions
1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. Toss squash, parsnips, red pepper and onion with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place vegetables in a large roasting pan and roast at 375°F for 45 minutes, stirring twice.
3. Coat a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Slice polenta into 12 slices, each about 1/2-inch thick. Fit slices into the bottom of the baking dish.
4. Spoon vegetables over polenta slices. Drizzle with half-and-half and sprinkle with cheese. Scatter thyme over top.
5. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Up Tomorrow- Barefoot Bloggers-Banana Sour Cream Pancakes and Craving Ellie- Fried Rice with Scallions, Edamame and Tofu

Polenta Rounds with Turkey Sausage and Vegetables in Marinara

I love polenta. I love that you can buy it in a little tube at the grocery store and it is ready to go. I had some leftover turkey sausage in my fridge and some leftover marinara, so I bought some polenta and came up with this dish. Full of veggies, with just a little meat- it was delicious and with all those colors almost to pretty to eat. But, we did eat it and it was good! Happy November!

Polenta Rounds with Turkey Sausage and Vegetables in Marinara by Mary Ann

1 tube refrigerated polenta, sliced into 1/2-1 inch rounds

4 white mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

1 4-oz link sweet turkey sausage (I use Jenny-O)

1/2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced

1/2 medium yellow or summer squash, thinly sliced

1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped

3 oz baby spinach

marinara sauce

Squeeze turkey sausage out of casing, into a warm electric skillet. Crumble with a wooden spoon and add mushrooms, zucchini, summer squash, and yellow bell pepper. Saute for 5-7 minutes, until sausage is cooked through and veggies are tender. Stir in spinach, just until wilted. Transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm.

Spray electric skillet with cooking spray. Layer polenta rounds in skillet and cook until warmed and browned, 2-3 minutes on each side.

Warm marinara sauce and ladle some on a plate. Arrange 3 polenta slices in marinara and spoon sausage-veggie mixture over top of polenta. Serve and enjoy!

Tomorrow- You Want Pies with That? Fashion Edition- Banana Pudding Pie and a Southern Dinner to go along with it- Chicken N Dumplings, Fried Okra.....

Slow Cooker Vegetable Casserole

This was a really hard dish to get a good picture of. It was nicely stacked in the slow cooker, but when I dished it up, it all kinda fell apart. The pics don't do it justice. Just try to imagine beans mixed with pesto, layered with polenta, zucchini, mushrooms, cheese and then spinach and pesto on top. Oh and don't forget the tomatoes. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious this ended up being. This was a tasty, easy dish that was full of flavor and veggies. I added a sliced zucchini because I had one and we had this on a busy weekend. If you need a side dish that is full of veggies, this is a good one. But, I am not going to lie, this is the only part of the meal that I ate.

Slow Cooker Vegetable Casserole adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
2 19-oz. cans cannellini beans
1 19-oz. can garbanzo or fava beans
1/4 cup purchased basil pesto
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1-1/2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, crushed
1 16-oz. pkg. refrigerated cooked plain polenta cut in 1/2-inch-thick slices

1 zucchini, sliced

1-8 oz pkg mushrooms, presliced
1 large tomato, thinly sliced
1 8-oz. pkg. finely shredded Italian cheese blend (2 cups)
2 cups fresh spinach

Directions
1. Rinse and drain beans. In large bowl combine beans, 2 tablespoons of pesto, onion, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
2. In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker layer half of bean mixture, half of polenta, zucchini, and half of cheese. Add remaining beans and polenta. Cover; cook on low heat setting 4 to 6 hours or on high heat setting 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Add tomato, remaining cheese and spinach. Combine remaining pesto and 1 tablespoon water. Drizzle pesto mixture on casserole. Let stand, uncovered, 5 minutes. Makes 8 servings.