Cheesy Baked Polenta with Mixed Herbs

I used to eat polenta all the time.  And then, I sort of forgot about it.

Seeing this recipe in my cookbook of the week, Sheet Pan Suppers, reminded me that I really need to get back into polenta.

This recipe is super easy and a delicious side dish.  The polenta gets nice and crispy on the outside, but super creamy on the inside.  The parmesan cheese adds a nice, salty kick.

I made 1 or 2 small modifications, so if you are following Weight Watchers - only 5 smartpoints per serving, which is 4 slices!

I had it for dinner with some zoodles and avocado and a fried egg.  It was absolutely filling and delicious!

Cheesy Baked Polenta with Mixed Herbs
Serves 4
5 Smartpoints per serving

Olive oil cooking spray
1 tube precooked polenta, cut into 16 slices
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground cracked black pepper
1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 mixed fresh thyme and chives (or herbs of choice!)

Preheat oven to 400.  Spray a sheet with the olive oil spray.  Space out the polenta rounds evenly on the pan.  With a brush, brush each slice with olive oil.  Sprinkle with the salt and apper.

Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the polenta about halfway through.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese and herbs.  Return to oven for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

(I stored the leftovers in the fridge, and just reheated in the oven - they were great!)

Fantastic Friday Four - February 5th, 2016

Happy Friday!

Here is what is making me smile this week (other than the fact that it's FRIDAY!!!)

I moved into my new apartment in July and have slowly been adding decor.  The walls in my bedroom are a really dark gray, so I've been adding white accents.  LOVE this one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond.  Also, it's a nice saying to wake up to on those tougher mornings.

In case it isn't obvious I have a serious coffee obsession.  And YAY Dunkin' Donuts have their travel mugs back with the $1.69 refill (and it's like an extra large mug) until April 30!

I can't really be allowed in Bath and Body Works without supervision because I have a serious candle addiction.  I have always loved these plug-ins too, but never really had a good outlet for them in my old apartment.  This apartment has a bigger bathroom and a perfect place for it!  I'm, of course, seasonal, so it's a snowflake (pumpkin is for fall, naturally).  The scent I have in now is brown sugar allspice and it makes me crave oatmeal everytime I walk in there.

Always been a big fan of PB2, and for the first time recently, I tried the chocolate.  OMG.  Seriously, though.   It is by far my new favorite - great to add to smoothies!  And only 1 Smartpoint for 2 TBSP.


What's making you smile this week?

The Love List: Love with Food Box

I'm a big fan of the subscription box.  I've used Ipsy, BeautyBox, Birchbox, and Nature Box - all of which I have enjoyed.  But of course, financially, having all those boxes can get a bit expensive.

One I'm currently enjoying is Love with Food.  It sends boxes of healthy, non GMO snacks to your door once a month.  Now, I'm a snacker, and I usually try and keep it to fruits and veggies, but every once in a while, you have to change it up.

This was the one I got this month.  This particular one is the Tasting Box, and it's $7.99 a month.  In it, you get at least 8 snacks to try.

Now, a word of warning, if you have a nut allergy, you might not be interested, as you can't delineate that ahead of time.  I don't, though I don't particularly like nuts, so I just give those snacks away.

This box, for example, had some granola cookies, some bruschetta for dipping, some organic corn chips, a turkey stick, a bag of organic cherry hard candies, and a few little sweet treats - one was a square of chocolate with crushed corn flakes in it!

These snacks, if you like them, are then also available to buy in their store.

What I like is that you get a nice mix of salty and sweet, and it's brands that I won't necessarily find in the store but can easily find online if I like them.

And the best part is, for every box you buy, they donate a meal to a food bank in America.

Good snacks and good deeds?  Sold!

If you are interested in giving this a shot, this is a referral link (once you sign up, you can earn points by referring others!).

Love with Food

Cookbook of the Week: Sheet Pan Suppers

Happy Sunday all!

Just a quick little intro to this week's cookbook of the week!

So basically, Sheet Pan Suppers is a book of recipes that can all be made on a sheet pan.  And there really aren't that many other pans required for most of them!

I played around with 2 recipes from here:

Cheesy Baked Polenta with Fresh Herbs
Quick Chicken and Baby Broccoli with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Keep an eye out later this week for the recipes!

Fantastic Friday Four!

Getting back to this series - a few things that are making me happy this week!

I used to know how to knit, but have long been out of practice - trying to get back into the swing of it with Stitch 'n Bitch!!  Let's be honest, I really just like the name.

Coffee!  Well this particular coffee.  I'm a tried and true caramel macchiato girl - but that sucker went up in points and while it will definitely still be a treat once in a while?  It's no longer on my weekly to do list.  I gave the Cafe Americano a try - definitely NOT sweet (it's just espresso and water!), but I really really like it.  And only 1 Smartpoint for a venti!  (Though someone is going to have to explain to me why given that it's coffee and water - shouldn't it be 0?)

A few weeks ago, in the throes of illness as I later discovered that evening, I headed to Pinot's Palette with mom and some friends.  SUCH a great time.  It's BYOB, and if you are looking for a fun night with great music, wine, and painting that takes on some hilarity when the only artist in the room is the instructor, definitely check it out!

Officially less than 200 days until my cruise!  Talk about motivation for the gym!

What's making you smile this week??

Artichoke and Goat Cheese Strata

So, in case it isn't already blatantly obvious?  I'm a BIG breakfast person.

I also love anything I can make ahead and bring for lunch as leftovers for the week.

This particular recipe I found while thumbing through my cookbook of the week.

So, it's eggs, bread, artichokes and goat cheese.  There is nothing wrong with any of that.

I adapted it to make it a bit more Weight Watchers friendly and so I could calculate the points, but I will link both the original recipe and the adaptation below!

This would be a fabulous brunch dish, one you could easily make ahead and cook off when your guests arrive.  It's hearty, with a bit of salt from the artichokes and tang from the goat cheese.

Artichoke and Goat Cheese Strata
Adapted from Cooking Light

Serves 6
8 Smartpoints Per Serving

1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 10 oz package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 3/4 cup skim milk
4 eggs
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
6 slices whole wheat sprouted bread, chopped into cubes
1/2 tsp. herbs de Provence
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
3 oz. crumbled goat cheese, divided

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, add olive oil.  Add artichokes and garlic and cook for about 8 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Remove from heat, add herbs, and let cool.

In a bowl, combine milk, eggs, salt and pepper.  Once combined, add bread and parmesan cheese.  Add artichoke mixture and let sit for about 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375.  Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.  Add in half the artichoke mixture, then half the goat cheese.  Top with the rest of the artichoke mixture and the rest of the goat cheese. Bake for about 50 minutes.

20 Minute Chicken Enchiladas

This may have been one of the easiest things I have ever made.

I got the recipe from here: 

And it is actually about 2 dishes?  But still worth it!

I actually followed this recipe pretty strictly, except I didn't shred the chicken.  I had some cooked Trader Joe's chicken on hand that was already in cubes so I just used that.

This recipe makes 6 servings, with a serving size being 2 of the enchiladas.  I served it with some roasted veggies and it made a super filling dinner for just 8 Smartpoints, for those counting!

20 Minute Chicken Enchiladas