Polenta With Pumpkin And Kale

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Polenta With

Pumpkin And Kale

 

water

4 cups loosely packed chopped kale or spinach

 

1 cup chopped onion

1 tablespoon minced fresh jalapeno

3/4 teaspoon

ground cumin

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 cloves garlic, minced

1

cup sliced mushrooms

1 no salt added tomatoes, undrained and chopped

1/2

teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 16 oz. can mashed cooked pumpkin

 

basic polenta,

see below

cooking spray

 

1 cup shredded swiss cheese, totally optional

 

Heat a large Dutch

oven, non-stick or sprayed with Pam. Add onions and push around to brown a

little. Add a few Tbsp water and stir to unstick from bottom. Add chopped kale

or spinach and stir about 5 minutes until all is wilted and onions are

translucent. Add more water as needed to prevent burning. Add jalapeno, cumin,

cinnamon and garlic, saute 3 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, cover and cook 5

minutes, Stir in tomatoes, cover and cook 5 minutes, Add salt, pepper and mashed

pumpkin and stir well. Cook uncovered 3 minutes, stirring well. Remove from

heat. Prepare basic Polenta, spread half in 11x7x2 inch baking dish coated with

non-stick spray. Spread pumpkin mixture evenly over polenta. Sprinkle with Swiss

cheese (optional) Spread remaining polenta evenly over. Bake at 375 F for 30

minutes or until lightly browned.. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Basic

Polenta: (4 cups) 1/4 cups cornmeal 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 cups water 1. Place

cornmeal and salt in large saucepan. Gradually add water, stirring constantly

with a wire wisk. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, cook uncovered 15

minutes, stirring frequently. Microwave method: Place cornmeal and salt in a 3

quart microwave cassarole. Gradually add water, stirring until blended. Cover,

microwave on HIGH 12 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes. Let stand covered 5

minutes. I made this two times, the first time I couldn't find kale in the

particular grocery store that I went to so I used spinach. I used the microwave

method for polenta since I tend to scorch things and it worked great. The first

2 times I stirred I wasn't sure it was going to thicken by the time it finished

it was perfect and it sure is easy to just set the timer for 3 minutes and stir

when it beeps. The non-fat cheese is totally optional, in fact I shredded it

then forgot to put it in the first time . In is fine without cheese, but the

cheese tasted good on the microwaved leftovers too. (The only edible non-fat

cheese I've found is called Lifetime brand and they don't sell it in every store

here). The effect is rather like lasagna but different. Serves 6.