Polenta with Red Sauce: My First Blog Post

 Three years Blogging and still going strong!

My Mother in Law served polenta on a board(large wooden cutting board).  I remember eating from that board many times. We would all sit around the table, she would place the polenta in the center of the table on a large wooden board and we would all eat our section of polenta that we would mark  in our area with our fork. ( Half circle around area that we felt we would eat). She also made her sauce from freshly hunted rabbit and used ground fat back to start her red sauce.   I never knew there was rabbit meat in her sauce or I might have been reluctant to eat it. :) but sometimes the less you know the better :). It actually tasted ok.

It was a new experience for me because even though I am half Italian Mom made polenta on many Sunday's and would make it with her traditional meat sauce.

She usually spooned the polenta  into a dish the way my pictures demonstrate and topped the meat sauce with plenty of freshly grated Italian (pecorino romano) cheese. 

Here is the recipe that I follow to this day!  Enjoy!!

 

2 cups corn meal poured into 2 cups cold water  Stir into mixed.    Bring 5 cups of water to boil to which 1 1/2 tsp. salt has been added..  Add cornmeal mix... Cook slowly with cover slightly on(it will splash if not covered) until it has thickened..About 1/2 hour....Let it set for a few minutes before adding a Meat Sauce and grated Italian cheese..That's Italian!!!

Just a note:  This post on Polenta was my very first blog post on blogger!  5/18/11!! 

Happy Baking and Cooking from my kitchen to yours,

 M.J.

 

 

5/18/11 My first blog post!
11/2/13
5/19/13


 

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Salmon Patties with LemonSauce: Easy and under 40 minutes!

I am not a fish lover but when you add a glaze or a sauce well maybe?  I added some lemon sauce to this salmon recipe  as it offered a nice change to a basic salmon patty.  Also some green peas with sauteed onions as a side as well as wheat couscous.

Sound like a healthy meal?  Yes it is!!!  Easy and you can do it in under 40 minutes. If you want more of these type recipes let me know.....Happy Cooking!

Salmon Patties (Mom's recipe)
2- 5 oz. cans pink salmon packed in water, drained well
1 small onion grated
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/2 cup cracker or bread crumbs
1 egg beaten
pinch of salt and pepper Note:(pinch being described as 1/8 tsp. or less)

Drain salmon ..Add grated onion, bread or cracker crumbs,egg, parsley, salt and pepper.. Set aside.

Lemon sauce:

2 tablespoons butter
4 tsp. flour
3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.Stir in the flour to form a smooth paste..Gradually add milk, stirring constantly while bringing to a boil..Cook until thickened..Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper.  In a well sprayed frying pan saute salmon patty until browned on both sides..Spoon lemon sauce over salmon patty..

Green Peas with onion (adapted from Taste of Home Simple and Delicious)

In a large skillet saute 1 small onion and 1 clove garlic in 2 tablespoons butter..Add 1 bag frozen peas and 3 tablespoons water..Bring to a boil..Reduce heat and cover, simmer for about 5 minutes or until peas are tender..Season with salt and pepper..


6/29/12

Easy Feta Chicken Bake

There are lots of recipes for chicken but unless they really appeal to me I seldom try everyone that may look good.  I have to get a real feel for the ingredients and this recipe hit all the good areas.

  

One it was easy steps.  Two it had feta cheese and  love feta so how could I go wrong.  Three it took about 45 minutes from start to finish that this meal was on the table.  You gotta like that!  Tasty, tender and just the right amount of feta to make it so flavorful and healthy red peppers to top made it crunchy too!  I served it with steamed asparagus and it was a perfect meal.  Enjoy!

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts( I filet them so they would cook faster)
2 T lemon juice divided(I used a fresh lemon)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/4 cup diced red pepper
1/4cup diced fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Arrange chicken in 13x9 inch baking dish.

Drizzle with 1 T of lemon juice.  Season with salt and pepper. Top with feta cheese;drizzle with remaining lemon juice.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  Sprinkle with red pepper and parsley.