When it all goes terribly wrong

[zvi]

What do you do if you try a new recipe for your batch lunches and it's terrible?

I have a "polenta and black bean casserole" from a Weight Watchers recipe; it is not particularly edible, and I'm facing 3.5 more lunches of this junk. Today I added more corn, which is marginally better than yesterday, and I've given some thought to rice, but I am not looking forward to it. (The problem is that I didn't have enough polenta to form a crust and create the sort of cohesion I expect from a casserole, and I foolishly followed the directions for a tablespoon of chili powder, and now there's heat w/o any particular flavor.)

Comments

[cereta]

Would adding some pico de gallo help? I usually find something fresh salvages things that have formed into glop.

[brownbetty]

Is it solid enough to cut up into chunks and fry? Might help a little.

But in general, sometimes I cut my losses and pitch the whole thing.

[reginagiraffe]

Add some mild salsa?

[bossymarmalade]

Can you make a soup/stew from it? You could add more vegetables so the polenta bits act as dumplings, and then convert it into sort of a chili-type deal!

[neotoma]

Sadly, the last time I had polenta, it was with pork chili on top. Somehow I doubt that will meet the WW requirements...

Maybe you can make it into polenta griddlecakes? Scramble an egg for binder, maybe add some onions/scallions and bell peppers and panfry them?

[yarngeek]

If expansion (more beans, veggies, or polenta) will resolve the flavorless heat issue and it will actually taste okay, try that. Failing that, I would pitch it and remake lunch with, like, brown rice, canned beans, and olive oil with sundried tomatoes, which is my default low-effort lunch.

[pennyplainknits]

Could you stir in some yogurt to cut the heat a little?

[kay_mulan]

toast bread, two slices. possibly throw a handful of panko, microwaved 30 seconds. add. flavor to season you wish.