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Guest Post: Cynthia’s Simple Polenta Pizza

Published on February 22, 2011 By Emily. Updated on February 22, 2011

I discovered Cynthia this fall through Healthy Living Blogs-it was so exciting to meet another blogger just minutes from my home!  We’ve been hanging out routinely ever since and she was quick to respond to my desperate email for help lightening my load this week.  She sent along this recipe for Simple Polenta Pizza and I’m really excited to try making it-maybe next week when I don’t have time for anything else!  Thanks Cynthia!


Hey Relishments readers!  I’m Cynthia from It All Changes and am responsible for Emily’s addiction to canning this summer.

Sorry Brian, but I’m sure you are enjoying the easy food now. 

Emily and I bonded over our love for food and meal planning…it just makes everything easier.  We love simple meals for our busy schedules.

Even the best laid plans can be pushed aside when life intervenes – like Emily’s busy days ahead.  Some days dinner options are what you can throw together with pantry ingredients or ordering take-out.  I’ve learned this the hard way and so has my wallet, so we keep ingredients for several easy meals on hand.

One busy day Hunni wanted pizza and all the dough had mysteriously disappeared into his stomach during lunches. Lucky for you readers my improvised recipe was fantastic and has been repeated several times in our home.

Simple Polenta Pizza

You’ll need:

  • One tube prepared polenta…I prefer flavored versions.
  • One can diced tomatoes…walk on the wild side and choose fire roasted or with added chilies.
  • One can beans of choice…We used Cuban spiced black beans or you could always make your own beans from dry.
  • Shredded cheese of choice…Cheese and I aren’t friends, hence the Daiya.
  • Be brave with Mexican blend or Italian or Asiago.

  • Salsa or Guac to top.

I’m sure you have these ingredients or similar variations in your pantry right now…Go look, I’ll wait.  If you are missing any, purchase them.  They are perfect for this recipe and so many more variations.

Now how to assemble this masterpiece.

  1. Poke hole in polenta tube over sink to drain liquid. Trust me on this or you’ll be cleaning the floor too.
  2. Press polenta into even layer in casserole dish.  This replaces the pizza crust.  No need to prebake because tubed polenta is precooked.
  3. Drain and lightly rinse beans as well as draining some liquid from canned tomatoes.
  4. If you drain too much just add a touch of salsa. At this point if you aren’t using seasoned beans or tomatoes throw in whatever spices strike your fancy from the pantry.  Cumin, oregano, basil and garlic are a good combo. Layer on top of polenta.
  5. Top with cheese.  The amount is up to you. Since you aren’t ordering out for pizza you can double the cheese without doubling the costs.
  6. Bake for approximately 20 minutes…give or take.  We don’t like crunchy cheese so 20 minutes was perfect. The fun of throw together recipes is you can tweak them however you like.
  7. Plate and top with salsa/guac.  Then go back for seconds and maybe thirds because it is so delicious.

The key to a quick meal without a plan is a stocked pantry.  Keep the basics on hand and experiment with creations like this.

What are the things you HAVE TO keep on hand at all times?

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Comments

  1. Maggie says

    March 27, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    We tried this for dinner tonight
    1. We have never had Polenta, I liked it! Hunny wasn’t so sure of the texture
    2. I actually picked this recipe because it had beans in it- we don’t eat beans, but 2 weeks ago when I went grocery shopping I bought a bunch of beans and decided- now we will eat beans! LOL! Hubby didn’t say yay or nay to the beans!
    Great recipe, one I can see my mom liking!!! Thanks!!

Trackbacks

  1. Where Have All the Pants Gone? « It All Changes says:
    February 23, 2011 at 8:36 am

    […] to make me a better me.  Now’s the time to make a few more.  Perhaps more recipes likes my Simple Polenta Pizza Guest Post for Emily of […]

  2. Relishments » Testing 1-2-3 says:
    March 15, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    […] Cynthia’s Simple Polenta Pizza: […]

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Last week Brian and I finally got around to hiring Last week Brian and I finally got around to hiring a sitter for a rare night out. We went to dinner at @publicna and took advantage of the opportunity with drinks, appetizers and dessert.

Pictured:
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New year, new theme word! This year's word is "enr New year, new theme word!
This year's word is "enrich" and I'm really excited about it.

I've written more about this year's theme on the blog. Click in the link in my profile or follow the link below to read the post.
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It's not New Year's Eve without a Top 9 post. It's It's not New Year's Eve without a Top 9 post.
It's almost all #Berkshires content this year, which is great.
1. A pasta salad reel that took longer to create than the recipe took to make.
2. A reel from North Carolina where I could have watched birds all day.
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New on the blog: My 2022 reflections on last year' New on the blog: My 2022 reflections on last year's theme word - resume. 

I was able to get back to many activities that were meaningful to me this year and I'm calling this theme a success. Follow the link below or click the link in my profile to read more.
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New on the blog: My Favorite Recipes of 2022. For New on the blog: My Favorite Recipes of 2022.

For the fourth year, I've recapped the best new (to me) recipes I made this year in the hope that they'll give you some new dishes to try. This year's list is short, but delicious. It includes @budgetbytes My Favorite Recipes of 2022
Published on December 30, 2022 By Emily. Updated on December 30, 2022

It’s hard to believe that 2022 is basically behind us. Though overall this year found me getting back to the person I want to be (post-babies and “post”-pandemic), I did not try nearly as many new recipes this year as I used to. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I’d made note of any new-to-me recipes I wanted to share in this post. This year’s list is short, but delicious. It includes recipes from @budgetbytes, @smittenkitchen and @howsweeteats.
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@coastalmainebotanicalgardens continues to be one @coastalmainebotanicalgardens continues to be one of the highlights of all my return trips to Boothbay and their annual Gardens Aglow event continues to impress. It was great to be back to walking the gardens instead of the pandemic drive through and there seemed to be more lights than ever.  I'm already looking forward to next year.
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It has been a while, but there is finally a new CS It has been a while, but there is finally a new CSA menu plan on the blog! Visit the link below or in my profile to see how I plan to make use of some of the @mightyfoodfarm produce seen here.
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Fall in the Berkshires is always incredible, but t Fall in the Berkshires is always incredible, but this year we've had weather that has also been outstanding. The past 2 weekends have included time at Jaeschke Orchards, the Greylock Glen, and the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail as well as stopping to photograph any random foliage I see. 
Check out the last slide for video of some feathered friends we saw on a walk.
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@freshgrassfestival continues to be one of my favo @freshgrassfestival continues to be one of my favorite events each year, and it doesn't hurt that it's just minutes away from home. Enjoying the festival with my kids is definitely a different experience than without, but it's still a good time. The weather was especially cooperative today which was great for all the laps I did around the @massmoca campus pushing a stroller. I'm already looking forward to next year.
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