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Sunday, January 29, 2012

I get by with a little help from my friends......

Especially on a jam packed Sunday when there's no time to dabble in the kitchen. 












I'm getting out my crock pot.....
I got a  jar of this.....
   


And a  package of this......boneless chuck roast (found it on sale at Bottom Dollar for $2.48/lb)





  I got a package of this....
Trader Joe's is by far the best but any good quality brand will do!
About 10-15 minutes before we are ready to eat---I am going to slice my polenta a medium thickness and saute it up in a little olive oil.
 Then, I'm going to put 1-2 pieces of polenta in a flat bowl and slather with Italian Beef

Then......I'm going to top it with a hefty hand full of this...

I prefer Trader Joe's Italian Cheese blend but this will do just fine




After weeks and weeks of kitchen olympics and holiday cooking, no matter how much you love it all, you just get plain tired.
That's where I am at right now.
In addition to that--I am still wrestling with packing up all of my Christmas decor.  Here in Judiland--it's a very complex and tedious process involving lots of tissue paper and packing materials and labels and cartons and tape and scissors and bags and boxes.....and hauling it all down into the basement and into the Christmas storage room (yes, I have one!).  Little by little, I've been working on the deChristmasization of Judiland.   However, with what the next few weeks have in store for me work wise-- I am now at very critical point--- the transformation has to be completed today.   If it doesn't get finished today....it will be March before I have the time and the energy to devote to this arduous procedure!   
Am I up for the challenge?
God only knows.
But,  let's face it....if there's even a remote chance that I am going to win the war on banishing Christmas from my house once and for all, Sunday dinner can't be a major activity.
Even though Sunday dinner has to be a major activity.....well....at least I try to make it a major activity in the week since it's one of the only meals Carmen and I get a chance to have together and chat a bit.

 My inspiration came in the form of a gift from a friend coupled with a visit to Williams Sonoma yesterday.   My dear friend Angela got me a box full of Williams Sonoma goodies for my birthday.  And, in the box was a jar of Italian Beef Sandwich Starter.  She knows I love all things WS.
Then, yesterday, when I made a quick stop into Williams Sonoma to pick up a jar of one of my favorite things on the planet--Williams Sonoma Carmelized Shallots  , they happened to be demonstrating the Italian Beef Sandwich Starter.   It was yummy.  I decided right then and there that I was making it for Sunday dinner.  And, since it tasted almost identical to a menu item at one of my favorite little bistros--Italian Beef over Polenta, I decided that was how I was going to serve it. 


Although I am dreading the work that lies ahead of me, I'm looking forward to the aroma that will fill the house as my crock pot and my jarred sauce does my cooking for me today! 

4 comments:

Jacquie said...

It sounds delish!

Mar's kids said...

Ooh, I had to quit my addiction to W-S ($$!)- although the sauces and reductions really are to die for. And don't hate me, but we took our Christmas stuff down on New Year's Day - it only took about 2 hours!

Bookncoffee said...

Happy Crock Potting...Sounds good. We love Trader Joe's but have to drive to the other side of Nashville to go to it. We plan trips over that way on purpose and make a day of it, take the cooler, and then hit trader joes at the end of the trip and bring all kinds of goodies home. We are such foodies!

Lisa said...

I adore Williams Sonoma. I have so many amazing finishing salts, reduction sauces, truffle oils, aged balsamic vinegars, fun and quirky cocktail plates. Oh the list goes on. It's like a therapist for me! I really like this recipe. I am going to add it to my list of future ones to make. I am getting banded tomorrow (if all goes well) so won't be on meat in awhile. But you had me at polenta!! I love making polenta topped with sauteed spinach, roasted garlic and a perfect sunny side up egg. Aaa-maaa-zinnngggg!