Free-For-All Fridays

This is the second time I am taking the liberty to tell you whatever I want, and I'd like to use it to tell you about the awesome dinner I made last night. I'm very proud of myself for this meal. Until recently, I'd gone through a bit of a slump (that's putting it nicely!) with my cooking. Awful, really inedible, meals. But lately, I seem to have gotten my groove back!
I was inspired by this post over at She Breathes Deeply to re-visit some of my old favorite vegetarian/vegan dishes and I remembered this comforting and delicious dish I had run across a few years back: beans and greens over polenta. It was nice to have an idea for dinner!
I ignored the recipe I had followed previously (though it had come out splendidly) and simply started reaching for things - the bag of corn grits, a can of tomatoes, the bunch of kale in the crisper. Unfortunately (or fortunately, perhaps) I was out of beans of any kind so I start surveying the fridge for alternatives. Artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese. Sounds like a Mediterranean party to me. So I struck forward boldly, with chef's knife in hand, and my courage was rewarded.

First, I started the polenta (according to package instructions - essentially one cup of corn grits to three cups of water). Then I sauteed some chopped onion, kale and garlic in olive oil.

I added some Italian seasoning to my polenta and turned the heat down to low. You have to let it cook and thicken for about 30 minutes but be careful! It bubbles and pops like crazy. Stirring more frequently is better than less to help release the trapped air. Once it thickened, I spooned it into an oiled bowl and let it set up for about ten minutes. Flip it onto a plate and - voila! - you could have bought it at a store. I cut mine into pie shaped wedges to serve.

While the polenta was thickening, I chopped up my goodies of choice: the artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and sun dried tomatoes. When the onions were translucent and the kale softened, I added them in with a can of diced tomatoes and let it all get friendly for about ten minute (these were the same ten minutes the polenta needed to set up).

A little chiffonade of basil: stack, roll, chop.

To serve it, I placed two wedges of polenta - points to the center - on a plate, laid my Mediterranean filling across, and topped it all with my pretty basil ribbons and some fresh feta cheese. Mmmm. It was so good. And pretty, too! It seriously made my night.

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The only other thing I wanted to tell you today was that my cactus finally bloomed. This is actually a very big deal. I've had it for three years and... nothing. A couple months ago it grew a big bud but it withered and fell off without ever opening. Finally - finally! - it opened this past Saturday - for my birthday, no less! - and it is so pretty.

Free-For-All Fridays

When you're a blogger, you start reading other people's blogs. When you read other people's blogs, you find links to even more blogs. When you follow links to more and more blogs, you find links to all kinds of things.
What I'm saying is that when you're a blogger, you spend a lot (I mean, a lot) of time on the internet. It's the nature of the beast.
And so I have things I want to share with you that really have absolutely nothing to do with my son or my life as a mother. Up to this point, I've refrained because that's not the point of this blog. But I've decided to give myself a free pass on Fridays to tell you about anything and everything.
So - a few links for you:
I just found Bloglovin, and yes, I'm lovin it. It's a great way to follow a lot of blogs, from different sites (Wordpress, Blogger, personal sites) all in one place. AND you can download an app for your phone. Awesome. You can even follow my blog with Bloglovin
Speaking of blogs I love, please take a minute to visit one or both of these:
Petite Biet: Belle and her husband Gaby raising a beautiful baby girl (Biet) in NYC. It's fun to live a city life vicariously through them. And Belle is wonderful. Her posts are honest but optimistic - a blend I really appreciate. She's also been very helpful to me on a personal level, so I am very grateful for her. The mommy blogging world really is an interactive network, but people like Belle who go out of their way to help someone else out make it feel like a community.
Our Little B Words: I've told you about Alicia Stucky once before, but I am forever in awe of her, so I'm going to do it again. This woman is incredible. Her family has been through so much in the past year, and her spirit and strength have been inspiring. She's an extremely talented writer - so much voice, insight, and humor - handy with a camera, and she has some very cool kids. You won't regret reading a post or two.
For the other Moms out there - check out Totsy. Major discounts on stuff for you and baby. You have to become a member, but it's free.
If you're a coffee lover, check out ROASTe.com. Find new coffees by entering your criteria (Mine: Organic, whole bean, medium roast). You can start a subscription so you always have fresh coffee coming your way. Plus - I'm excited to have some insider information for you! - if you enter the coupon code BLOGME5, you will receive $5 off your first purchase.
And lastly, I've been drinking my greens lately. I found this recipe through a friend on Pinterest, and it's true, you really can't taste the spinach. Just peanut buttery goodness. :) And now that I've conquered the fear of drinking something that intense shade of green, I feel empowered to play with this idea.

 

Happy Friday everyone!

Love,

Em