Mexican Polenta, Bean + Cheese Casserole
I’ve been craving Mexican and this hit the spot
It was inspired by a number of recipes I have seen recently but the combo was basically what we had on hand:
- Frozen peppers (3 cups)
- Frozen corn (1 cup)
- Diced tomatoes (1 can, drained)
- Cooked navy beans (1 cup – you could use any kind of beans you like, canned or cooked from scratch)
- Taco seasoning (a year-old packet – about a tbsp!)
- Cumin, red pepper flakes, dried oregano and garlic powder – all to taste (about 1/2 tsp each?)
- Polenta (2 servings, prepared)
- 4 oz shredded Mexican cheese
Heat peppers, corn, tomatoes and beans with seasonings until hot. While veggies are cooking, boil water for polenta, add 1/2 a cup polenta and let thicken and cook for 5 minutes. Pour veggie + bean mixture into a casserole dish. Top with polenta. If you have a shallow, wide casserole dish like I did, you will have to spread it out very thin. Top with cheese. Bake at 350* for 15-20 minutes. Bottom layers will be loose, so take care when serving!
Total recipe is about 1225 kcal, 35 grams fiber and 54 grams protein – portion as you like! Makes about 3-4 servings, depending on your appetite.
My serving was a little less than 1/3 of the recipe (about 380 kcal). I served it with a handful of steamed spinach and topped with Cholula, red pepper flakes and a spoonful of Fage.
Check out the chez! This was a full fat Mexican blend, but honestly I didn’t think it had anything over the reduced-fat kind I often get.
Including a small bite of the husband’s leftover cornbread, this dinner was about 450 kcal, 15 grams fiber and 23 grams protein.
NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
I’m heartbroken!!! It just hit the granite the wrong way. A memorial service will be held tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Thank goodness I have two green ones, but I don’t know if C&B makes them anymore if that one goes too!
For snack today I had a scone-cookie topped with “icing” – 1 oz of Fage mixed with a little maple syrup!
And I ate the remainder of the icing with 4 graham sticks –
I am DETERMINED to be done with my daily chores (blogging, etc.) by 8 tonight to go take a bath and read In Defense of Food! (The husband just finished Botany of Desire and has moved on to Omnivore. I better hurry up or he’ll be waiting on #3!)
I better get going!
Goodnight my friends!
Nick says
Looks amazing! I love Mexican food, I make it all the time. I love using the fat free shredded cheddar cheese, beans or refried beans, corn, salsa, homemade chips, etc…. But the additional of polenta sounds great, I actually have some sitting in the fridge. Thanks for the inspiration!
– The Peanut Butter Boy
Nick says
Speaking of homemade chips, that casserole would be a perfect dip for the Homemade Tortilla Chips I posted a few days ago. If you have any leftover casserole, you should try em!
– The Peanut Butter Boy
Suzanne says
OH NO!
Pretty green spoon! They don’t have any more green ones at Crate and Barrel (I recently ordered the white one and blue one online).
But it’s good that you have another! 🙂
Your dinner looks delicious – except for the Mexican aspect. I don’t like Mexican food – something about the spices maybe? It doesn’t agree with me. Is it the cumin that gives it that distinct flavor? Maybe I can just leave that out. 🙂
Have a good rest of the night.
ser says
I was going to order one of those cute little spoons in blue, but then I realized that I have two crazy little boys and that would just be stupid. My spoon would have quickly gone the way of yours. I send you my condolences.
Your dinner looks great.
Oh, and another great “icing” for oatmeal, scones, etc. is lowfat cottage cheese with a drop of almond extract, a drop of vanilla extract, and a bit of maple syrup. Of course it doesn’t dry, but it tastes a lot like cream cheese frosting.
Julia says
Aw, you could super-glue it! It wouldn’t be the same, but still…
I love mini-spoons…I get some metal ones at Ikea (lol). That and iced tea spoons (with the super-long handles). For some weird reason, I am particular about the utensils I use…hee.
your dinner looks scrumptious 🙂
happy monday!
Kelly L. says
Calling WINOS!!!
Okay, so here is the scoop. I am not an alcohol girl. I have never been a big drinker and just don’t like the taste of alcohol. I don’t have any issues with drinking in moderation, and with the health benefits of wine, I can see why so many people partake. I’m always the odd ball because I get invited to a wine bar or out for cocktails but don’t go because I really don’t like wine. WITH THAT SAID, I have had my college days complete with wine coolers, mixed drinks and the infamous bottle of Boones Farm. As you can tell I like the fruity stuff that doesn’t taste like alcohol. Does anyone have any wine recommendations that are fruity and light and aren’t heavy and “winey”. This may be a really really silly question but I would just like to find a glass of wine I like so I can enjoy a drink with the girls. I have tried zinfandel, merlot, champagne, etc. and don’t like any of it. I just like plain ol’ cheap $4.00 boones farm and that’s not even wine…..
HELP.
Sara says
I bought two of the blue ones. You’re giving C&B some business!!
Question: What is polenta? Where do I buy it and how do you cook it?
KarenR says
How about Riesling? I almost always find that to be very sweet.
Kath says
KellyL,
I agree about Reisling – it’s usually sweet and full. Gewurztraminer too. Ask your bartender for something sweet and start that way.
Sara,
Alton Brown did a Good Eats episode on them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofJ3v_a6UUE
Kath
Kim says
Gewurztraminer is usually sweet… it’s kinda funny that all I have really commented so far are the wine and school things. I’m really not a wino, I rarely even drink!
Jessie says
on wines:
i do not like red wine which is the one with the most benefits, but i recently got a recommendation for a “starter red” as he put it and i LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
Its by Gallo and it is a zinfindel (which is technically white but this is infused with raspberry juice and has the deeper flavor of a red, with the sweetness of a white)
It has helped me appreciate red wines more, although i still get it every other bottle, it is just to good! Plus its like….5 bucks a bottle…can’t beat it
lola says
we’re so sorry for your loss.
your spoon was one of the cutiest things ever.
🙂
Jessie says
aawww Kath, i misread your comment and got unbelievably excited that there was a good eats episode on wine 🙂 i realize now that wouldnt make sense….but im still disapointed. I love that show and i have been wanting to learn more about wine….bummer
lola says
oh, and about polenta, it’s the same name in portuguese and here in brazil they only serve them fried, fulllll of oil.
the way you eat it and things you mix with turns polenta as a possible thing for my diet plan.
Beth says
Do you have a particular kind of mexican cheese you use? I am just trying to gauge how many calories should go towards the cheese? thanks.
kim says
Hi Kelly. I’m like you. I actually usually order white white wine spritzers with a riesling or a glass of prosecco (sparkling wine). Less calories, love the fizz, festive/bubbly.
Betsy says
disaster in kath’s kitchen!!!! my favorite spoon!!!! i think we should all have a moment of silence for our little green friend.
hopefully your dinner made up for the death in your cutlery family.
Romina says
This is such a great idea! It looks so good. Reminds me of my mom’s polenta casseroles. =)
Liz H. says
Kelly L, Reslings and Gewurztraminers are great, usually if you go into the wine store and ask someone who works there what you are looking for they can usually help you out. Ask for something “drinkable” and fruity. I started out by drinking Rose (the pink wine), sound like you would probibly like that
Suzanne says
Kelly L,
I am just like you. I’ve ordered so many wines, thinking I’d eventually like something. I’m not much of an alcohol drinker in general. I like the sweet fruity stuff that doesn’t take like alcohol as well.
I’ve only liked two wines: a port (dessert wine) – it was SO sweet and delicious. And this may be a weird suggestion but Japanese plum wine is sweet and delicious. Not sure if they’d have that at non-Japanese restaurants/bars though. It sounds like you may like it. 🙂
kay says
Tears….. ohhh little spoon, how we loved you!!
Molly says
prosecco.
beringer’s white zinfandel.
katieb says
I feel your pain!! I mentioned a few weeks ago I ordered these in white and love them – I dug into some frozen yogurt last weekend to plop on my warm pumpkin and it was a tad too hard – the spoon snapped in half AND sliced my thumb :(….i still love them though
Ally says
Aww, so sad about your spoon!
That Mexican Polenta looks amazing though! I can’t believe I never thought of preparing Polenta that way… well it’s on my ‘to make’ list now!
Scone looks great… I really want to bake some 🙂
Kiala says
I like roses (not the flower, the wine) a LOT. They give you the nice red wine feeling but they’re cold and slightly fruity like a white wine. It’s my favorite summer choice. I prefer the darker roses too, rather than the light pinkish orangish ones.
april says
today i went to mcdonolds because my friends invited me and i didnt want to be a party pooper, but i tried to get something that wouldn’t have too many calories and since i wasn’t hungry i had the sugar-free vanilla iced coffee. I went to the mcdonolds website and i can’t find the nutrition facts for the sugar free! does anyone know about this? is the vanilla listed on the website the same as sugar free? you would think that sugar free would be less though!
Stacey M says
Okay, EVERYBODY needs to check this Diane Sawyer ABC News clip out about the inaccuracy of the food labels/nutrition facts claims of everyday products:
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7301244
Very scary.
greenpeeps says
In addition to the Riesling and Gewurtzraminer, I would recommend a Muscato. I find them very similar to the latter wines, perhaps even a little sweeter and fruitier. They would be a good place to start. 🙂 Enjoy!
KarenR says
Also, you could drink a wine punch, like Sangria. Nice to see how quick we are with our gateway drug suggestions!
Also, I have heard that any alcohol is beneficial to your health (in moderation of course, particularly for women) but obviously red wine has extra benefits because it is purple. So how about grape juice and beer? Or my favorite – blueberry beer!
kwaze says
Very sad about the spoon!
Wondering…are there any late 30 somethings out there? This is going to be long…but is it REALLY possible at our age to eat as much food as Kath eats(and I know the number of kcals she has is TOTALLY appropriate, this is just my screwed up diet mentality) and not gain weight? Most of my mom friends are VERY weight conscious..everyone is on a diet….that or “breaking” their diet. We all exercise alot. None of us exactly have”normal” eating habits and I am just SO sick of this. I want to eat like Kath…..but I think that stupid diet mindset keeps getting in the way. I have never eaten normally for an extended period of time…so I guess I am just nervous what will happen with my weight???? I am up 7 lbs from this fall…..still within “normal” limits I guess but I feel HUGE(which is my own problem)…..back to the question….is anyone my age and eating these types of meals and finding that their body isn’t exploding? Again…please don’t misinterpret…I love how Kath eats and can only hope to eat that well someday! Thanks.
Jill says
Not the spoon! I was so jealous of that! Small, fun silverware is a MUST in my kitchen – and I’m only one in the house that likes small silverware, everyone else uses that whole thing.
Fage icing is BRILLIANT – thanks for the idea!
sirenjess says
Rieslings are good they can be sweet or dry. These are some good ones to try if you can find them. Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler (german wine) 2006 Bernkasteler Basdstube Riesling Kabinett and Eroica by St. Chateu Michelle and Dr. Loosen I forget the year. A kabinett is not as sweet as a spatlese. I hope this helps.
Korin says
I don’t really know about how age would affect it kwaze, but part of the crew’s (your mom, her friends, etc, you are talking about) problem might just be their diet mentality. If they did eat like Kath they probably would lose.
I’m 27 and I eat more calories on a given day than Kath, definitely (probably because I am 6’1″ and LOVE to eat a lot) but have lost and maintained eating what you call “normally” and not dieting. I do watch it, but if you restrict calories too much it would have to mess with your metabolism I would think (I’m by no means an expert or even know what I am talking about, lol ;). Then, the minute one of these ladies says “screw it” and heads for a binge, because they have been denying themselves food they love, it’s all downhill.
I say moderation is key in almost all aspects of this crazy weight loss/maintaining deal.
Katie says
OH NO about the spoon! How awful!! If you can’t find them at C&B definitely keep your eye on ebay!
Kath says
Beth ,
I said in the post it was a regular Mexican blend – 110 kcal. per oz. I have a reduced fat one (Sargento?) that I like as well.
Nick ,
Chips look yummy! But there’s no casserole left!! The husband took the rest for lunch.
Stacey M,
Thanks for sharing the clip! It seems like for the most part, the labels were accurate. And hopefully all of us mindful eaters know about the 1/2 gram of trans-fat “rule.” I have weighed some products to see how accurate the serving is. For example, my Food for Life buns are closer to 1.25 servings than 1. However, I figure that the extra amount will even out since some are probably under the serving size too.
kwaze ,
I really don’t eat that much! I average about 1800 kcal per day – I bet you come close to that. While I do eat a lot of food and variety at each meal, I don’t cook with a lot of butter or olive oil and my portions are probably smaller than they appear in the big zoomed in photos. In general I don’t snack other than my afternoon snack, and I would guess that many women do a lot of nibbling and snacking. It’s all in how you choose to “spend” your calories. I think Korin brought up some really good points too!
Re. Wine,
Here’s a really helpful site that tells about the different types of wine/grapes. I’d recommend reading the Intro along with the White, Red, and Tasting pages. The tasting page might be really helpful for those of you who don’t know what KIND of wine to try:
http://www.2basnob.com/tasting-wine.html
(And it just happened to be a snob site – we have to get rid of this wine=snob stereotype!)
Kath
Anne P says
oh nooooooooooooooooooooo poor little green spoon!!! that is so sad 🙁 maybe you can find some on ebay?!
Amandamoo says
THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED TO MY GREEN SPOON!
Ok, actually, I broke it when I dug into some ice cream that was too hard straight out of the freezer… but still.
Amandamoo says
Jessie-I’m pretty sure Alton Brown did an episode on wine! Maybe do a search for it on Food Network’s site… I think I have it on my DVR if you can’t find it, I can get you more info : )
Melissa says
Regarding wine – I am the same exact way. I WANT to like it, but don’t! However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the Moscato’s!!! Especially Moscato D’Asti! It is the BEST! Not dry at all and very sweet and awesome ice cold!!! It’s the only alcohol I like besides malibu!
kwaze says
Oh I definitely eat 1800 kcal a day…just in a funky way…tiny meal….snack…tiny meal..snack…snack….maybe a tiny dinner…then snack snack snack…it all adds up though, for sure. I amm working on having three more normal meals and maybe a snack…which again, would probably be right around 1800 kcal…but bad habits are hard to break….this site is very helpful though….as well as eatlikeme in seeing what a “normal” meal is!!!!”:)