Polenta

(recipe from The Vegan Gourmet)

1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. salt
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 Tbsp. olive oil

Heat 4 cups water to a simmer over medium-high heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.  Crush oregano with a mortar and pestle to a fine consistency, or crush thoroughly with your fingers, then add to the water along with the salt.  Pour in the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly.  Reduce the heat to medium-low and gently simmer about 20 minutes, stirring almost constantly with a wooden spoon.  As it cooks, the polenta will thicken.  When it is thick enough to pull away from the sides of the pan, the polenta is done.  Stir in the olive oil.  Pour the hot cooked polenta into a loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap so it does not dry out, and allow it to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Polenta can be sliced and heated as desired.  Serve with sauteed veggies.

Toasted Muesli with Millet, Coconut, Pistachios, and Cranberries

(recipe from Whole Living magazine)

1/3 cup boiling water
1/2 cup whole millet
2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
3/4 cup shelled pistachios (I used walnuts)
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup honey
1 Tbsp. coconut oil (I used olive oil)
1 tsp. fine-grain sea salt
2/3 cup dried cranberries (I used frozen cranberries)

In a bowl, pour boiling water over millet, cover with a plate, and let sit until softened, 30 minutes.  Drain.

Heat oven to 325F.  In a large bowl, combine drained millet, oats, pistachios, and coconut flakes.  (I also mixed in the frozen cranberries.)

In a small saucepan, bring honey, oil, and salt to a boil.  Pour over millet mixture and stir until combined.

Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring once, until golden, about 20 minutes.  Once cool, stir in dried cranberries.  Muesli keeps, stored in an airtight container, two weeks.

(Even with all of the substitutions I made, this was lovely.)