Creamy Polenta

This is not a diet food.  That being said, it is absolutely delicious!

2 C water
2 C half and half or milk
1 1/2 C cornmeal
5 Tbsp butter
Salt and Pepper to taste

Bring water and half and half (or milk) to a boil.  Gradually whisk in cornmeal a little at a time.  The mixture will be thick, but should be able to stir.  If it is too thick, add a little bit more water or milk.  Bring heat to low and simmer for approximately 6 minutes.  Taste and if it is "crunchy" cook a little longer.  If it looks a little dry, add more liquid.  Take off of heat and stir in butter and cheese and season.  Serve immediately.

I've had a rough couple of weeks and a large bowl of this creamy polenta really hit the spot.  You can eat it just as is, or add a little browned sausage or roasted veggies. 

Chicken Pillows

I've barely cooked the past couple of weeks. I still make menu plans and I go shopping, but I just haven't cooked much. It's gotten to the point where I have no idea WHERE to go for dinner because I'm all burnt out on the food in the neighborhood. Yesterday, I decided no matter how much I may not want to, I was going to cook.

I made chicken pillows and although very easy, they are very delicious!

1 8oz. of cream cheese -- softened (I used non fat)
1 large cooked boneless skinless chicken breast -- diced (I poached my chicken)
1 seeded jalapeno -- chopped
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tube of crescent rolls
2 Tbsp. butter -- melted
salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, stir the cream cheese, jalapeno, cooked chicken, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Stir until well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings accordingly. Roll out the crescent rolls. The one I used made eight rolls (this will make 4 squares). Seal the seams of two triangles to create a square. Make sure they are sealed well so the mixture won't leak out. Add a few tablespoons of chicken mixture to the center of each square. Fold up the corners so it creates a purse. The mixture should be totally enclosed in the dough. Placed on a cookie sheet. Brush the top of each pillow with a bit of butter and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

I served this with a gravy made with cream of chicken soup and a gravy packet. Sounds gross, but it is delicious!

Just dump a can of cream of chicken soup (I used fat free) into a pot and then dump in a packet of gravy mix. Add about 3/4 of a soup can of water. Whisk until all combined and smooth and warm through.

Pour the gravy on the hot pillows and enjoy! Really good and really easy!!

Sheppard's Pie

I love this dish. It's easy and tasty and very rustic looking.  You can add really whatever you like.  B texted me last night after he had some.  "The sheppard's pie is DELICIOUS!!".  I was pleased.

Filling
1 pound ground beef or turkey (original sheppard's pie is made with ground lamb)
1 small onion chopped
1 clove garlic chopped fine
2 Tbsp flour
1-2 C water or stock
2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 1/2 C frozen vegetables (whatever you'd like)
Salt and Pepper


Mashed Potatoes
4 Russett Potatoes
1 Tbsp butter
1/4 C milk
1/4 C cream cheese
Salt and Pepper


Brown the meat and drain once cooked.  Add diced onions and garlic.  Stir for a couple of minutes.  Sprinkle the flour on the meat and stir around until you can't see anymore "white".  Add about a cup of water and stir into the mixture.  It should thicken fairly quickly.  If you would like a thinner gravy add more water until you get the desired consistency.  Add Worcestershire Sauce and salt and pepper.  Stir in frozen vegetables.  Pour into a baking dish.

Make mashed potatoes.  Boil potatoes until fork tender.  Drain well. Add butter, milk, and cream cheese and mash until smooth.  Add salt and pepper. 

Pour potatoes over the meat mixture and spread so that the meat is completely covered.  Sprinkle with paprika if you'd like and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

 

Meatloaf and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Yesterday I made meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The first meatloaf I ate was the first one I made.  B who grew up on it said mine was the best he's ever had.  In fact, today he still considers my meatloaf as one of his favorite dishes. I paired that with garlic mashed potatoes.  The potatoes were a little decadent this time, because I actually had cream in the house.  I had some leftover from making tomato soup and didn't want it to go to waste. 

Meatloaf

1 pound of ground turkey or beef
1 egg
2 Tbs ketchup (I have left this out with no real difference)
1 Tbs dijon mustard (I have also left this out at times)
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/4 C breadcrumbs  (when I do low carb, I leave this out, but add an additional egg yolk)
1 green pepper -- finely chopped
1 small onion -- finely chopped
salt and pepper

In a large bowl, beat the egg and add all other ingredients with the exception of breadcrumbs and meat.  Stir well.  Add meat and mix well with hands.  Start adding breadcrumbs.  You may need a little more or less than 1/4 cup.  Transfer meat mixture to baking dish and shape into a loaf.  Bake at 350 degrees for about one hour.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

3 russet potatoes, scrubbed and peeled.  Chopped into big pieces
1/4 C Cream
4 Tbs butter
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt

Boil the potatoes until fork tender.  Drain well.  Place back into hot pot and mash a bit.  Keep it still chunky.  Add butter, salt, and garlic powder.  Start with some of the cream.  Continue to mash.  Don't over mash, otherwise the potatoes will be gummy.  See if you need to add more cream.  If so, then go ahead.  Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary.  Very good and rich potatoes!  I normally use skim milk in my mashed potatoes, so these were quite luxurious.

Chocolate Pudding

                                          Photo courtesy of planetgreen.com

I have a bit of a sweet tooth.  Okay, I have a huge sweet tooth!  I'm always rummaging around for something to satisfy my craving.  The thing is, I know myself so I avoid keeping sugary stuff in the house.  Over the weekend, I decided I would make chocolate pudding.  I thought, I'll make a batch and make it maybe, kinda, sort of good for you.  Actually, it isn't really healthy, but at least it's natural!

4 cups of milk.  I used 1%
1/2 cup of sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup of cornstarch

Heat the milk and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  In the meantime, mix the sugar, salt, cornstarch in a large bowl.  Once the milk and vanilla warm through, add the chocolate and stir until smooth.  Be sure to scrape the bottom as the chocolate may settle at the bottom of the pot and burn.  Once everything is combined, add a few ladles of the hot mixture to the dry ingredients.  After each addition, whisk until smooth.  Once everything has been incorporated, add the entire mixture back to the saucepan and cook over medium heat.  Stir somewhat constantly so it doesn't burn.  The mixture will thicken after a few minutes (about five minutes).  Once it does, you can either ladle it into single serving containers or pour it into one large container.  Either way, lay a layer of plastic wrap directly on the pudding so it doesn't form a skin.  Once it has cooled for about an hour, transfer to the fridge and chill for several hours.

Enjoy!

I took a photo, but I am too embarasssed to post it.  I'll take another one soon and hopefully that'll be good enough to post.