Monday, February 28, 2011

Polenta with Cherry Tomatoes, Mushrooms, Garlic and Parmesan Cheese

Every once-in-a-while I like to buy the pre-made polenta as sort of a "fridge/pantry stuffer" with no idea in site of what to do with it.  Last week while cleaning out the fridge I realized I still hadn't cooked my polenta I bought a week or two before, and while not wanting food to go to waste, I whipped up a delicious meal.  It was DELICIOUS!

Since I made this up from scratch, there aren't any measurements, but I definitely recommend making this for a easy, comfort food that doesn't take much skill.

1 Pre made Polenta "roll" sliced into 1/4 inch thick slices
Cherry Tomatoes (as little or as many as you want! I used the whole container)
Garlic (thinly sliced)
Fresh basil (chopped)
Sliced mushrooms (as many or little as you want)
Parmesan cheese
Fresh mozzarella cheese 
Extra Virgin Olive Oil

*Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

•In a sauce pan combine, lightly heat up olive oil and add tomatoes (full). 
•Add sliced garlic and mix.  (Make sure the pan is not too hot to burn the garlic but let flavors and smell combine. )
•Add chopped basil and sliced mushrooms.
•Spoon in some of the fresh mozzarella cheese juice.
•Cover pan and let cook.

In another sauce pan:
•Heat olive oil
•Add sliced polenta, allowing it to lightly brown on the bottom before flipping over. (You may need to do two batches of these.)

Once all of the polenta has been cooked on both sides, take out a baking dish (Pyrex).
•Pour a little bit of olive oil on the bottom
•Place your first layer of polenta down. (Depending on size of baking dish you may be doing layers.) 
•Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese over polenta. (Add pepper if you wish as well)
•Top with tomato/mushroom mixture. 
If you have more polenta, make a new layer and layer with paremesan cheese and the rest of the tomato/mushroom mixture. 
•Top with as little or as much shredded parmesan cheese and fresh mozzarella (cut into slices)
•Add any pepper to the dish
•Place in the oven. 
•Cook until cheese has melted. 
Serve onto plates and enjoy!

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