Selection, Storage and Prep Notes for Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Sheet Pan Sausage, Polenta and Zucchini

1. Summer yellow squash and zucchini both work terrifically with this sheet-pan meal, and they require similar cooking times. If you substitute other vegetables, such as carrots, asparagus, green beans, broccoli or cauliflower, adjust the cooking time as needed.
2. Prepackaged logs of polenta are such a time-saver, plus they have the right texture for slicing and cooking in a high-heat oven. Find polenta logs in the refrigerated convenience-product section of your favorite supermarket.
3. Any favorite sausage will work with this sheet-pan meal – Italian, bratwurst, Polish sausage, smoked sausage. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
4. Be creative! Season with any favorite spices and herbs.
5. It’s fine to enjoy sausage every now and then as part of the “moderation” key. But you can use reduced-fat turkey and chicken sausages if you want to reduce calories and fat grams. Start the vegetables and polenta first, maybe 10 minutes or so, then add sausages. Most lower-fat blended sausage products are precooked and just need heating.
6. Corn-based polenta provides fiber plus natural phytonutrients to protect eyes and reduce risk of macular degeneration.
7. Zucchini is high in vitamin C.