Chicken Polenta Casserole

 
Dinner:
I decided to make polenta from scratch. I found a recipe from the  Southern Living Cookbook Jeff’s mom and stepdad got me for my bday a few years back ( thank you again!) and used just the polenta making part from it.

It was SO EASY!! I first saw Polenta on Caitlin’s Healthy Tipping Point, and found out that you can buy it pre-made ( usually about 4 servings for $3) at the store. So I had NO idea you could make it so easily at home until my lab a few months ago  (I didn’t make that recipe but I tasted others).  Today’s recipe was super fast, easy and cheap! You can get a whole bag of cornmeal for what, $1 -2, which would make what, a 70 servings ?!

All I did was bring 1. 5 cups of water and salt to a boil- Whisked in 1/2 cup of yellow cornmeal, drop heat to low while continually whisking for about 2 minutes. At that point it was done! But I threw in some steak seasoning and a little reduced fat cheese.

I pressed that into the bottom of my casserole dish ( 7 x 11).
 

That was the base layer. For the middle, I sauteed onion and zuchinni until brown ( with a little NOO olive oil).

I took the veg out and cooked the chicken in the pan, about 5 minutes on each side because I had flattened out the breasts already for faster cooking. I chopped up the chicken and added the crushed tomatoes, a can of black beans and the onion/zuchinni mix. I let this all simmer for a few minutes.

I filled the casserole dish with this mix, topped with 1/2 cup of 2% fat cheese. Baked at 350 for 30 minutes.

Out of the Oven:

My plate with hot sauce…

I am so happy this randomly came together so well! I am pretty sure this is what I will make for girls’ weekend when we all go to Emily’s house on the beach! Andrea and Brit, what do you think?

Okay so the rest of my eats:
Pre-Class Snack:
Gnu Orange Cranberry Bar ( which was from a sample package I just got for review! This one was SOOOOO good!)
Orange Vanilla Awesome Almonds – I have to post up the review but these were my favorite so far!

reviews up tomorrow probably!

Lunch:
Steamed frozen veggies ( spinach, zuchinni, squash, green beans, red pepper, onion, cauliflower)

A chobani vanilla with a tiny organic Fiji Apple ( and cinnamon)

Lunch from the top:

In case you were wondering, this was 1 serving of fruit, 3 servings of vegetables, and 1 dairy.

Morning snack: banana ( in the car on the way home from the store, so no photo! )

Breakfast:
Jay Robb Protein Smoothie ( mango, cherry, blueberries) with some Quaker Oatmeal Squares for some crunch!

Body:

Gym: Elliptical 40 minutes and Biked 4 miles.
I haven’t done ellipticizing for awhile now… its been all running! I had myself a good ol time , I read a woman’s day mag and a Lucky and rocked out on my ipod.

Mind:
Met with my advisor and went over alot of things! I am going to be a crazy lady next semester if I want to finish all the master’s courses AND all the DPD requirements ( which you have to meet to apply for the internship, which you have to have to take the RD exam). BUT- the good news is… its totally do-able in my opinion! For sure, the master’s will be no prob so that is good. I can make up the DPD courses whenever really…

Vitamins class: We watched this movie about supplements (vitamins, protein, st. johns wort, etc) and alternative medicine ( homeopathy, naturopathy, accupuncture, maori…etc). It was really interesting!

Soul:

I am really excited about some opportunities for a practicum and studying abroad for it!

I went to the store because Jeff and I never like Wednesday night TV and this guy at the redbox was so nice! He leaned over and showed me this code for a free movie! Hooooray for random acts of kindness!

Good Karma must have been the reason two of the movies I was hoping were out were in the machine- Quantum Solace and Marley and Me.

Wee okay I am getting a huff and puff for going to watch the movie – in a fun way.

Happy Hump Day!