Question for all my fashion friends:
When will Christmas bows come into style?
For our Christmas Eve party, I decided on a recipe that originated from a cookbook. But, par for the course when I try to follow a recipe, my impulsive hands had to do their own thing. This is how Polenta Casserole (nicknamed “Christmas Polenta Casserole” for the party) came into existence.
Polenta Casserole, with a healthy dose of nutritional yeast.
Above, after sittin’ pretty in the oven for a while. Below, the polenta dinner, pre-baking:
Christmas Polenta Casserole
- 2-3 bell peppers, chopped (I used 220g)
- 4 cups zucchini, sliced (I used 560g)
- 1 onion, chopped (I used 120g)
- 2T soy sauce (such as tamari)
- 4 cups kale (or other greens), chopped (I used 110g)
- 1 tsp each parsley, dill, onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp oregano and basil
- 2/3 cup (or more as desired) jarred or homemade pasta sauce
- 1 cup cornmeal (I used whole-grain polenta)
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, plus more for the top
1. Sauté the first three ingredients, in sautéing liquid of choice (oil, water, or broth), over high heat for 5 minutes. Then cover and simmer 5 more minutes. Add tamari and cook on low (covered) for 5 more minutes.
2. Add all remaining ingredients (except polenta), as well as 1/2 cup water. Stir and cover again. Cook until veggies are soft. Serve over cooked polenta (made with a little salt), and sprinkle nutritional yeast on top, as desired.
*For a true casserole, put the cooked polenta in an oiled pan and bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Then put the veggies on top, sprinkle with lots of nutritional yeast, and bake again for 35 minutes. But I am lazy and therefore will probably skip all these baking steps next time!
Amidst all of the lamb and pork and macaroni, this casserole was definitely the most festive-looking dish at the party. I’d say it was the most-tasty, too… but obviously I’m biased.
That looks great!!
Hope you had a very merry holidayyyyy!
You are adorable with your bow! Best thing I ate… candy cane kisses, for sure!
Well I’m hardly a fashionista, but I think that you’re successfully bringing back the Christmas bow! Love the pants too! 😀
Great recipe! This could be the vegan main for me next Christmas! Looks yum 🙂
Girl, I think you could bring Christmas bows AND fleece pants into style!
That casserole looks so good, especially since it’s sugar-free. Best thing I ate all weekend…I made a vegan version of The Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon rolls, which were awesome! However, I’m sick of sweets (for an hour or two).
Haha, I was sick of chocolate once… for about 5 minutes :).
Haha, you’re much more fashionable than I am in my Grinch PJs 🙂
omg that looks SO GOOD Katie!
It’s vegan, it’s GF (minus the polenta part just talking the veggie casserole), there is no garlic (I dont’ like it, i know im in the minority with that one) and it’s got nooch & tons of veggies in it.
I LOVE THIS ONE!
Normally sweet > savory in my book but this savory gives sweet a run for it’s money 🙂
Wha? No garlic? LOL we’d be perfect dinner dates, because I could eat all your garlic :).
On a different note: you could marry Edward Cullen (of those Twilight books). That would make tween girls everywhere very very jealous!
Love the sound of that casserole! Best thing I ate this weekend – a tie between stollen and chocolate yule log. 🙂 Looking forward to Christmas recap!
Aww you look adorable missy!
I am all for making fleece pjs fashionable 😀
Maybe we should petition the government for a holiday? National Fleece Day? 🙂
Great/creative way to use the polenta! I’ve been looking for a way to use mine and I think you’ve inspired me 😉
Have a great night!
Laur
Aw thanks, Laur! Happy holidays, girlie :).
Haha, love the new look, wonder how many odd looks you’d get if you wore the Christmas bow on a run 😛 Polenta Casserole looks great for a windy day (ohh look it’s windy and cold today, humm … ;)).
Ugh, windy and cold here too. But at least there’s no snow or rain!
the best thing i ate this weekend? hm… i ate a lot of what i usually eat, which is usually an awesome salad with fig balsamic vinegar, almond butter bananas, nutritional yeast, raw food bars (like love force bars: http://www.loveforce.net/)….but i have to say, i went to a friend’s house for christmas dinner, and he made an amazing effort to keep over half of the feast vegan- and his dishes were great! vegan cassoulet, tomato soup- plus, i made vegan peanut butter truffles!
Woah, those LoveForce bars look insanely good! I’ve never seen them around here :(. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out, though!
I looove polenta. That looks/sounds GREAT!
Love the Christmas bow! I’m not sure when they’ll come into style but they sure are cute. And fleece PJs are so comfy it doesn’t even matter if they’re stylish or not 🙂
This looks amazing!!
I’ve never had polenta…but will absolutely make that this week bc my body is in need of veggies after this holiday weekend!
The oatmeal sounds so fun, Katie. But are you going to do a post showing what presents ya got? I’m nosy! But more than that, I like seeing what other healthy foodies get, because it gives me ideas. I never know what to ask for, and my birthday’s coming up in February. Yikes!