This week's recipe from the menu

This recipe is for me, a winter recipe because it asks for the use of the oven, which I never use in the summertime. It can be modified to be done on top the stove if you want to go ahead and make it in the summer.

This week's menu has a couple of oven recipes, this is one of them. I will try to get in one recipe per week per the menu for that week from now forward. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for asking.

Tuscan, White Bean Artichoke over Polenta

Ingredients:

2 TB EVOO

1 diced Onion

4 minced Garlic cloves

1 oz. Basil Oil **

1 (28oz) can Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes (or 2- 14oz cans)

1 Lemon

1 TB minced Oregano

1 can Artichokes, drained, squeezed, chopped

2 cans (15oz) White Beans, rinsed

8 oz Ricotta Cheese

**1 lemon, 1 ounce Basil, More EVOO for Basil Oil.

Directions:

In a large pan, heat the oil. Sauté' the onions and garlic 5-7 mins. Add the tomatoes, artichokes, beans and oregano. Bring to boil, simmer for 10 mins. Transfer to oven dish.

Dollop the ricotta over the top.

Bake 30-35 mins at 400 F.

**While it is baking, make the Basil Oil.

Combine 1/4 c EVOO with 1/4 tsp sea salt, the zest and juice of one lemon and 1 oz of basil (1 large bunch) in a processor. Process until smooth.

*While it is baking, slice and cook polenta.

Serve bean mix on top of polenta slices individually and scantly drizzle the basil oil on top of each serving separately.

Notes: EVOO is Extra Virgin Olive Oil. TB is Tablespoon. tsp is teaspoon. mins is minutes.

You can make your own polenta or buy a tube from the store, I have gone back and forth with both ways and either works fine. If you do not have fresh oregano you can use dried just let it soak for a time in the oil. I let it sit in the processor while I am preparing the beans mix if I use dried. [1 oz of fresh basil is about 2 Tablespoons. To use dried basil use about 2 teaspoons.] I do not add salt to anything so I omit the sea salt and I do not miss it.

This recipe makes 4 servings and takes about 45 minutes to complete.