Monday, February 20, 2012

weekend review: it rains, i bake

Figure 1. Saturday night's dinner: pork tenderloin with mushroom sauce, served over creamy polenta made with pecorino Romano cheese, and oven roasted green beans.

For the polenta (which I'm getting pretty good at), I combined 2 cups of water, 1 cup of almond milk, a bit of butter and salt. I brought this to a light simmer over medium heat (you don't want the milk to burn on the bottom). I then added 3/4 cup polenta stirring constantly with a whisk until thickened. Then switched to a  wooden spoon and stirred until desired thickness. Once the liquid simmers, this process takes about 5-7 minutes. Then, I took it off the heat and stirred in about 1 ounce of grated pecorino Romano cheese (you could use any cheese, I think, just make sure it is strong) and cracked black pepper. This amount should serve 4 (~3/4 cup cooked serving size).

Figure 2. In preparation: toasted coconut granola. A mix of oats, cinnamon, coconut, walnuts, almonds, molasses, and butter topped with dried cranberries.

Figure 3. Sunday morning baking: toasted coconut granola.

Figure 4. Sunday afternoon baking: peanut butter cup blondies.

Figure 5. Out of the oven: bacon and butternut pasta. This baked pasta dish was absolutely fantastic and included crumbly bacon, roasted butternut squash, steamed kale, onion, garlic, a creme fraiche-based sauce, and topped with Gruyere cheese

Figure 6. Sunday night's dinner: bacon and butternut pasta, a slice of Italian 5-grain bread, and a spinach salad with red bell pepper, cucumber, tomato, and kalamata olives.

12 comments:

  1. I've never made polenta before but you've inspired me to add it to next week's grocery list!

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    1. you should give it a try - a nice change of pace from other carb choices!

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  2. I am so, seriously drooling over the pasta. Think any leftovers would mail safely to Florida?

    Rainy days are the best for baking. I spent a lot of yesterday enjoying the sporatic windiness and making easy lunches to grab this week.

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    1. hmm, not sure it would make it to Fl although I certainly could try! It is definitely drool-worthy.

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  3. Yeah I would probably want to eat that entire Pam of blondies... Good thing I don't have access to it.

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    1. yeah...that is why most of them are going in the freezer or to my boyfriend's house

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  4. the granola, pasta, and blondies all look AMAZING!

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  5. I want those blondies! They look amazing for real. And so does the bacon butternut pasta dish, except without the kale for me :P

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    1. aw, kale is the best! and so is bacon...

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  6. I think I want a little bit of everything you're making! That granola looks especially tasty. I just can't get enough of coconut.

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    1. thanks! the granola is really spectacular. kinda wishing i hadn't given half away to the boyfriend...

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  7. Your blog always makes me hungry. Without fail.
    The granola looks divine! And don't even get me started on those blondies...mmm....
    (:

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