I hope you all had a great weekend! I know after my last post you are all waiting in suspense to find out the results of my foot’s xray and I am happy to say that I do not have a fracture and am half way through my rest period! It was actually a good weekend to skip the long group run as it was chilly, rainy and the kids had early soccer games. I am so curious if I will feel ready to run at the end of this week. I guess we will see!?
So the recipe for today- polenta bruschetta. I’ll have to admit I am pretty indifferent about polenta. I have had it before where I loved it, but more times than not it just doesn’t do much for me. I tend to always keep a tube of it in the pantry even though I don’t cook with it often.
I thought a bruschetta-type topping would be great on the polenta rounds. Nothing too crazy, just good simple clean flavors. It was great. I would totally make this again. This vegan, gluten-free dish could be served alongside a big salad for a vegetarian meal or as a side along some grilled chicken. It’s a lower carbohydrate choice for a side dish as it has 15 grams per serving (approximately 3-4 round pieces).
I just pan fried the polenta rounds in a little olive oil, then made the tomato topping afterwards in the same skillet. Easy and yummy!
I am back to meal planning. I have to laugh at myself because I basically can’t go grocery shopping without a meal plan. My husband always suggests we “run in” after church to get groceries and I explain to him that if the meal plan is not done, I will not go shopping. It’s just a mess if I do.
Sunday
Giant Salad with assorted veggies, roasted chicken and gorgonzola
Monday
Pesto Veggie Paninis, Baked Butternut Squash Fries
Tuesday
Chicken Fajitas, Crockpot Black Beans
Wednesday
Leftovers
Thursday
Chicken Lettuce Wraps (knock-off PF Changs recipe)
Friday or Saturday
Taco Salad
I might switch days around but this is the plan for now! I’d love to hear what YOU’RE having. Just leave your plan in the comment section!
Hope you all have a great week and you have until 12pm central standard time today to enter the giveaway for a Bestowed Box!
- ½ tube (18 ounce) pre-cooked organic polenta, cut into ¼ to ½ inch thick slices
- 4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 1½ cup grape tomatoes
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons minced shallot
- salt and pepper
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves
- balsamic vinegar
- Heat nonstick skillet on medium-low. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add polenta to pan and cook for 5 minutes on one side, flip and cook additional 4-5 minutes.
- Remove polenta to a paper towel-lined plate. Place skillet back on the burner, add another teaspoon of oil, turn skillet down to low heat, add whole grape tomatoes and saute for ~5-6 minutes or until tomatoes start to soften.
- Add minced shallots and garlic and saute an additional 2 minutes. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let tomatoes sit in hot pan for another couple minutes until most have softened and lost their firm shape.
- Transfer tomato mixture to a bowl, stir in 2 teaspoons olive oil and chopped basil. Spoon tomato mixture evenly over polenta rounds. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar to finish and serve warm.
Question: Are you a fan of polenta? What’s your favorite way to prepare it? What’s on your meal plan this week?
Roasted Tomato Salsa
Easy Vegetable Soup
Cinnamon Vanilla Protein Bites {Gluten Free}
Loaded Southwestern Hummus
That looks delicious! I don’t know why but there’s something about polenta that has always intimidated me. I think that I’m scared I would end up with a big gooey, clumpy mess!! But this looks great and super simple. I’ve always seen the polenta rounds but wasn’t sure how to use it. PS – so glad to hear you don’t have a fracture in your foot!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Best Run
Thank you Christine! I know what you mean. I think I have avoided it because I don’t love the creamy porridge kind as much. You might prefer this preparation more as well!
Wow. I’ve never tried polenta but this looks delicious. What’s the texture like?
And, your meal plan sounds yummy!
Helen recently posted..Stress, Life, and Epicure Restaurant Review
When it’s like this and you pan fry it you can get a nice crust on it and it’s nice and soft on the inside. If you make it from scratch, it’s more like a porridge. Takes a little getting used to in my opinion!
Yum! I grew up hating polenta much to the disappointment of my whole entire Italian family. But now I love it. This looks great!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..Marathon Monday Week 8 + #BestRun
Haha, did you grow up eating more of the porridge kind or both? It’s funny how different they taste with the different preparations.
yum! looks fab! pinned…i really need to try polenta!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..Bean Byte 32
Thanks Lindsay! I need to experiment more too. It’s an easy and quick side option!
oooh SHARING!!!!!!
Miz recently posted..I got bored.
Thank you so much Miz!! 🙂
Yep, these are definitely pin-able!! YUM!
the Candid RD recently posted..Bulgur-Blueberry Salad (Perfect for Spring/Summer Cookouts!)
Thanks so much Gina!
Ohmygoodness, what a great idea! I need to try this!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..5bythe5th Link up + Best Run
Thanks Laura, I love anything with this topping. 🙂
I’ve never made polenta but I want to now!
Kierston @candyfit recently posted..Charging Ahead!
Let me know if you try it! If you cook it from scratch it’s more like a porridge. I need to experiment more with that form.
I would make it if I could! That looks delish!
Hubs is out of town and I am overly busy, which is painfully obvious by my meal plan! Switching up my job means that I will be working extra for a while while I make the transition. Hopefully I will be working less in the end!
Sunday: Your fab black bean burgers
Monday: Grilled cheese, vegan style with fruit and a side of tomatoes
Tuesday: Leftover black bean burgers
Wednesday: Veggie burger patty with avocados and tomatoes, gf chicken nuggets for kids.
Thursday: Gretchen is making a Forks Over Knives pasta primavera…thankfully, I will have ONE real meal this week!
Brittany Smith recently posted..Homemade Lara Bars and an Update.
A new job or just different classes? The ONLY thing I like when Toby is gone is that I don’t feel obligated to make nice meals. They kids are so easy to cook for! Hope you have a good week!
Those look great! I will have to try them. I have loved polenta sometimes and others times it was just kind of blah. I have always looked at the tubes and thought about getting one. I need to work it in a meal plan. This week is busy, the kids have a lot of extracurriculars. Greg is gearing up for trial and I am studipyibg for my ACE GFI test ( was supposed to take Friday but it was cancelled so Fridays post was timely for me). Her are our plans
Sunday- salad bar
Mon- eggs for the kid salad for me ( Greg is out of town)
Tues- sandwich wraps
Wed-stuffed peppers
Thurs- the forks over knives pasta primavera
Fri- pizza maybe
Sat- leftovers or smoothies and homemade bread in the bread machine if we don’t have enough must go.
Did they set a reschedule date? I am sure you want it over with but at least you have more study time! Good luck!!
Yes, they did. Tomorrow is the big day!
I just made a polenta dish too! I love how easy it is. This looks great btw!
Bree recently posted..Copycat! Starbucks Vanilla Spice Latte
Thanks Bree! It is so easy. I need to experiment more.
I love polenta – especially when its cut then and pan fried. It gets so crispy on the outside but still nice and creamy on the inside. Perfect!
As for meal planning I usually always do it. If not I have so many random things in the fridge yet nothing to actually construct a meal. It’s horrible!
Maria Tadic recently posted..Not My Mama’s Broccoli
Nothing worse than a fridge full of food but nothing to make. 😉
Wow! These look delicious! All this food is making me hungry.. Hunger pains 🙂
I’d totally make this with roasted eggplant rounds! Yum!
GiGi Eats Celebrities recently posted..Donald Trump Needs Some Saffron!
Melanie, those are absolutely gorgeous!!! The perfect lighting, the vibrant colors….I’m in love. And not to mention the food itself sounds absolutely delicious. Where has your blog been all my life???? Maybe if I keep reading, some of your lighting magic will rub off on me. 😉
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Drink & Dish: DIY Funfetti Cake Mix {with video!}
Haha, thank you Ari! I know I don’t know how I missed yours either, even though we are in the same FitFluential family. 😉