Tonight's Post is Sponsored by the Letter "P"

I found myself in quite a quandary (one might say, a pickle??)...this evening....in regards to the meal per se.  I had zero tricks up my sleeve, but felt some pressure.  Heck, even E.V. was giving me pressure.  She wanted leftovers, and she wanted them pretty badly...

"Please, let's end this charade so we can eat, Mama.  Please?!?!?!?!  I don't enjoy the rain!"

I felt the need to oblige her, so we returned to the apartment to prepare dinner.  I wasn't in any position to argue...  This evening I made an arugula steak salad with polenta croutons and a balsamic reduction, along with roasted corn.  This is super inexpensive, due mostly to an underestimated side....POLENTA!  Polenta is so versatile, easy to prepare, tasty, and about $.11 per serving...yep...I didn't stutter, nor did I mis-type a single word.  It is super cheap and very delicious.  It also can make an amazing presentation.

We've addressed my quickly mineral depleting arugula before...I had still a bit left and felt it necessary to use it up.  I tossed it with just a teeny bit of olive oil, along with some carrots for added color.  I don't believe the green bowl gives it justice...but stay tuned!

To accompany the salad, I purchased a steak.  It was large enough to provide for three meals.  That equals out to about $1.67 per meal.  Again, I've also mentioned my affection for rather rare meat, however, in salads it can behoove one to cook it more on the done side.  It makes eating everything that much easier.

Pan seared, pepper crusted and sliced into thin rounds.  Ummm...Ummmm..

Topping off the steak salad were polenta croutons.  I've already talked about my fondness for polenta, and will continue my crusade to ensure every household is equipped with the ingredients necessary to make said polenta.  For a single serving, I used 1/2 cup homemade chicken stock, 1/4 cup cream and a dollop of unsalted butter.  Once that came to a boil I added 1/3 cup coarse corn meal and whisked until combined.  I poured it into a buttered baking dish and placed in the fridge.  Once cooled, I cut it into cubes and baked at 450 for about 20 minutes or so.  Yum!!

To assemble the salad,  I laid out the arugula and topped with sliced steak.  then placing the croutons around the side and drizzled all with my balsamic reduction,  topping with parmesan cheese.

Below is the final meal in it's entirety.  As a side, I roasted half of an ear of corn while I was making the croutons, which turned out perfectly!  Here's dinner..................

E.V., as well as myself had zero complaints.  Affordable, easy and delicious!

"Oh, yeahhhhhhhhhhhh Mama.  Where's my food?!!?!?!  You allow me to sit out on this empty street....I'm hungry!"

"Mama, I feel funny...Why did you make me look so weird?!?!"

So there you have it....tonight's meal.  Aside from my brand spanking new Bon Appetit magazine that arrived in today's mail, this meal the highlight of our day.  You encounter such predicaments when you work from home.  I mean, I could go into a long discussion regarding Excel spreadsheets, but I'm sure neither of us want to go anywhere near that topic.  E.V. and I are off to enjoy a little bit of heaven, courtesy of some brilliant gentlemen named "Ben and Jerry."   Phish Food Ice Cream!!!   Have a nice evening!  Thank you for joining us.  xoxoxo, The Lone Phoodie :-)