Italian Steak and Peppers with Creamy Polenta ... et. al.

We had an interesting dinner last night! It was good, actually, we did new recipes both last night AND the night before and both were really good! We did a vegetarian chili with rice on Wednesday and it was really filling and super yummy! Last night we did this Italian Steak & Peppers with Creamy Polenta and it was great, too! I figured I'd share the recipe with you since it is a great, affordable, easy to do meal that tastes wonderful!

It comes from Woman's Day magazine, March 3 issue.



3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
2 3/4 cups water
3/4 tsp salt
4 (1/2 in. thick) blade steaks (about 1 1/2lbs.)
1/2 tsp pepper
4 tsp oil
1 small onion, sliced (we diced for smaller pieces)
2 cubanelle peppers (about 8 oz.) chopped
4 oz mushrooms, quartered (we skipped these because mushrooms are slimy and gross)
1 clove garlic, minced (we chose to use roasted garlic! Yum!)
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes in juice
1/4 cup grated parmesan

1. Mix Cornmeal, 2 1/2 cups water and 1/4 tsp. salt in a 2-qt glass bowl. (I used 2 3/4 cups of water and it came out great, so not sure if you want to add a bit more?)

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, microwave on high for 12 minutes, stopping ever 3 to whisk, until it is thick.



2. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper on both sides of steak (just season them...don't so much worry about the measurements on this...if you like other flavors feel free to add them.

3. Heat 2 tsp. oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook steaks 2 to 3 minutes per side until browned and cooked to medium (or use your favorite method to get them just how you want them.) Remove to platter. Loosely cover with foil to rest.

4. Heat remaining 2 tsp. oil in the same skillet. Saute onion, peppers, and mushrooms (if you like slimy fungus in your food) about 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute more.

5. Stir in tomatoes and their juices, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper...and a dash or two of whatever seasonings you grab from your spice cabinet like my husband did! LOL!

Simmer, covered (or not so much covered) for around 5 minutes.


(okay....slight diversion for my confession....this photo is why I'm sharing this recipe with you! LOL! Sean was working on the sauce and when I looked at it it was so gorgeous and filled with brilliant color that I had to photograph it and then I figured I had to share it so I should at least be nice enough to share it's source! HA! Oh, the joys of inspiration from anywhere and everwhere!)

6. Whisk parmesan into the polenta.

7. Spoon Vegetables and sauce over steak and serve with polenta. And a Diet Coke. Because Diet Coke makes the world a happier place.

Enjoy your yummy dinner!



I will try to choose a winner for the Scrap With Style Contest later today, but this weekend at the latest. (I tell you this so I will actually do it, so if I don't somebody should yell at me! Accountability, people! Accountability! LOL!)

Good news...my weigh in on Wednesday went WAY better than I expected! I am finding that maintaining is actually more stressful than losing was, but at least I seem to be able to do it fairly well, so that is a good thing!

I got a new friend in the mail yesterday! I will be posting more on this later, because ... well... it's amazing and stuff, but I just wanted to give you a brief sneak and an introduction to my newest critter friend!



Isn't he just MAGICAL!?! Yes. He is.