easy meaty or meatless Monday meal

It has only taken me a week, but I’m finally getting back to you with the second recipe using those polenta scraps from the Polenta Pesto Bruschetta recipe I gave you a week ago today.

This is almost the perfect “layer and bake” recipe, all you have to do is brown some Italian sausage. Although, you could easily make this dish even more convenient by omitting the sausage, thereby creating the perfect Mindless Meatless Monday Meal.

Dave was out-of-town when I made it, but Connor was home for the night, so the meat was called for. We enjoyed the spiciness that the sausage added.

Italian Polenta Bake

Polenta trimmings from this recipe, or a tube of prepared polenta, cut into rounds
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
8 ounces hot Italian sausage, cooked
1  1/2 cups purchased marinara sauce
2/3 cup grated mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with Pam. Place the polenta trimmings in the dish.

Sprinkle the polenta with 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese.

Sprinkle the cooked sausage on top.

Spread the marinara sauce evenly over the sausage layer.

Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.

Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese on the top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the cheese on top is bubbling.

Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.

See, it’s easier than ordering delivery pizza online!

 Serves 6