Not just for Valentines Day. This would be a great treat for any special day including, but not limited to Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day,any family celebration or just because. One thing that always comes with Valentines Day is sugary treats; heart-shaped cookies, pink-frosted cupcakes and tons of white-sugar conversation hearts.
For a healthier alternative to heart-shaped sweets to make with your little ones, why not make heart-shaped, whole wheat pancakes with bright red raspberry sauce, heart-cutout peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or try this recipe below for Heart-Shaped Polenta and Tomato Sauce.
With or without tomato sauce, kids love the mild, spongy texture of baked polenta and the simple flavors of butter and creamy cheese. You can keep it simple for the kids with just a bit of cheese and sauce, or you can get a little more creative for mom and dad by adding herbs, sautéed mushrooms and stronger cheese like Parmesan. Your kids can help you in the kitchen with this dish. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, allow your kids to cut out the cooled polenta.
Heart-Shaped Polenta Cakes with Tomato Sauce from Foodista
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 cup Corn meal
- 1 teaspoon Salt¼ teaspoon Pepper
- 3 tablespoons Parmesan, grated - You may wish to use a milder cheese for kids, like Monterey Jack or Fontina
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 jar organic tomato sauce
Preparation
- Heat chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add salt, pepper and butter and continue to heat until stock boils.
- Slowly whisk in the cornmeal. Continue whisking until mixture becomes thick.
- Fold in Parmesan with a spoon.
- Immediately pour mixture into a shallow pan. Smooth out to desired thickness, place in refrigerator and allow to cool.
- Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to punch out heart shapes.
- Reheat heart shaped polenta cakes in 350-degree oven for 8 minutes.
- While the polenta cakes are warming up, heat up the tomato sauce in another sauté pan over medium-high heat until warm.
- Place one polenta cake onto each plate and top with tomato sauce. Garnish with grated cheese.
Optional: For the adult crowd, jazz up the tomato sauce with sautéed mushrooms and fresh herbs.
This recipe was supplied by Melissa Peterman from foodista. Thanks for sharing Melissa!
