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Meatless Monday

I get it.  Nobody really cares all that much about what anyone else had for meals on any given day.

All the same, I will continue to bore you with Meatless Monday posts, because Meatless Monday is a real thing, a movement that I do support.  It is good for our health.  It is good for the environment.  It even has historical significance as part of the nation's war effort during WWI.

And I care what I eat and this is my blog.

And I learned something.  Bear in mind that it is full blown pollen season her in Florida.  Since avocados are so readily available here, I have been choosing them over cheese as a topping for sandwiches.  Yesterday, though, I had some homemade tomato soup and the thought of a grilled cheese sandwich really appealed to me and I enjoyed my light supper immensely.  However, when I went to bed, I really noticed the stuffiness and the cough.  This made me notice what I had not noticed before--that I had not been bothered by stuffiness and an annoying cough for some time before last night.

Here's another meatless meal I enjoy:

It's polenta with spinach and mushrooms.  Peppers and onions, tomato salsa, any kind of sautéed vegetables work for me.

My mother used to call this cornmeal mush.  I liked it as a kid, but polenta sounds so much more "foodie," cosmopolitan, and plain grown-up.

For some reason, I have always found it tricky to make.  Yes, I know one can buy it in a sausage like tube, but that is not my style.  Recently I found this method in a Redbook magazine:

Slow-cooker Polenta

1 cup yellow cornmeal
4 cold water water
1 cup low-fat milk
1 tsp. salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsp. butter

Put everything in a slow cooker.  Cover.
Cook on low setting for 8 hours.

I had perfect results and I got to use my crockpot, which always makes me happy.


I picked up a copy of Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation.  It should not be hard to guess that I drink Michael Pollan's kool-aid.

Comments

  1. I feel better when I don't eat heavy meals - we often have salad and soup which we both enjoy. I sleep better, too!

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  2. No question the veggies and fruits are better for you, and we feel better too. But, I must confess, once in a while I crave a juicy burger or steak. With fries.
    I find foregoing sugar helps the body feel better too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get that craving too. Not so often, but I don't feel guilty about the occasional burger. Steak, I can easily go without.

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  3. I love reading about your meatless meals. I don't keep mine to Mondays, though. Several times when I'm alone for dinner, I just go meatless. I'm not big on polenta, but there are many other meatless entrees I enjoy.

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    Replies
    1. I also eat more than one meatless meal per week. I do eat chicken and fish. Once in a while I have a hamburger, but I like turkey burgers and lentil burgers as well.

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  4. Meat is usually part of our dinners, but I eat much smaller portions that I used to.

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  5. I never cared for mush (polenta or not). Lol. I noticed that you do eat a lot of avocado. Can't over here, because hubby doesn't care for it. The neighbor's tree always dropped avocados into our yard, and hubby would always throw them back. He was overjoyed when the tree was chopped down.

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  6. I've never tasted polenta, as corn meal was not something my mom cooked with...we were strictly a meat and potato family. It was a special treat to get mac & cheese (the homemade kind...I didn't taste the boxed stuff until I was an adult..yuck)

    On the cruise last week I found I preferred the vegetarian meals to many of the meat dishes. The menus have really been increased to appeal to all diners. Of course having someone to prep the veg and cook the meal makes it just that much easier.

    Enjoy!

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  7. So do you think it was the cheese itself that added to your congestion? Must admit had it been me having that grilled cheese sandwich -- I would have added avocado to it! They have been plentiful and inexpensive lately and I have been loving it!

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  8. I really like the idea of meatless Monday. I'll have to try this when my life is back to normal.

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  9. Meatless Monday difficult to life.

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  10. My favorite meatless meal is a tomato sandwich. What could be easier?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You and my grand daughter would enjoy lunch together. That is her favorite, too.

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  11. Tomato soup and grilled cheese is a wonderful meal. I need to go more meatless though now days, meat (rather turkey or chicken and occasionally pork loin) gets one fifth of my plate and the rest is veggies. Funny when I eat properly, my body is sated and isn't begging for MORE.

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  12. Food sensitivities are a tricky thing. Hubby has cut out dairy and feels better. Good for you for listening to your body!
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  13. Olga, we also enjoy tomato soup. Recently a friend introduced us to Tomato and Red Pepper soup made by Pacific. It's an organic box soup that can be found in the grocery... and it's *really good*... (all natural - no preservatives). I add a dollop of sour cream and some sliced fresh avocados on top!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, that does call my name! I like red peppers too.

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  14. I've always thought Polenta would be horribly difficult to make. This recipe, though, doesn't sound too hard. Will have to try it out. Thank you!

    PS: I *love, love, love* avocados. (And I do care what you had for dinner.) :-D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not difficult at all. Everything goes in at once. Give it a stir. Let it cook.

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  15. You go Olga! You are right! This is your blog and you can write what ever you want to! ~ Avocados sound really good to me right now! We DON'T have an abundance in the North East right now! One question-- are you missing all this white stuff on the ground yet?

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    Replies
    1. Not in the slightest! It is a beautiful day here. I am sure I will be in shock when I go home in April. There could easily still be snow then.

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  16. I enjoy seeing your meatless meals and I especially enjoy seeing your pretty place settings. I am going to give your polenta recipe a try. Thanks and please keep sharing. :)

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  17. My wife is a vegetarian so every day is meatless, which is OK with me because I pretty much detest any meat that is not beef, bacon or ham.

    I had an avocado for the first time the other day. Not sure what to say at this point other than interestingly strange!

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