So Domestic; or, Cooking Like a MFing Adult!

I had a particularly bad day on Wednesday, due to a number of factors that I don't feel like discussing at the moment, and as a reward for getting through the day without punching anyone in the face, I bought groceries! Here, the word "groceries" is used to mean "things I enjoy but can't actually afford on a regular basis, like cheese and fresh produce." The idea was to cook a nice dinner so I could simultaneously feel like a responsible and successful grown-up and to avoid having to base yet another meal solely off granola (although, yes, I did still buy granola during this venture).

My history with cooking is fairly spotty--when I was younger, I made a fantastic tuna-noodle casserole, and my grilled cheese skills are pretty formidable. However, I was also the kid who accidentally set the stove on fire in eighth-grade home-ec (and then again at my grandmother's house when I was 19), and I have more than once forgotten to remove the cardboard from the bottom of a frozen pizza before putting it in the oven. So I was understandably just a little apprehensive about making an attempt at cooking something new.

It's surprisingly easy to cook on a budget when you're a vegetarian (although I am, to be clear, a vegetarian who very occasionally eats fish, which in some people's opinion is not a vegetarian at all). Honestly, the reason I don't attempt to cook more often is that I just haven't got the time, between two jobs and graduate school. Most of what I make tends to fall into the whatever-I-can-mix-together-quickly-in-a-not-entirely-unsatisfying-way category. I'm particularly fond of Maftoul couscous with curry powder, canned tuna (chunk light in water, specifically) and a little Parmesan.

In any event, I thought that I would attempt to describe what I did, for the dual purpose of providing other people with vegetarian-friendly, health-conscious, low-stress cooking ideas, and helping me remember what I did so I can attempt to replicate it later. I didn't think to take any pictures when I made this the first time, so I will cook it again soon and see if I can get a good shot with the phone on my camera.

What I did:
I poured a small amount of olive oil into a frying pan and heated it on my stove's medium setting (which, I am beginning to suspect, runs a little hot, so I might set it a little lower next time). Next, I sliced a Field Roast Apple Sage sausage and some pre-made polenta  and sauteed them in the olive oil for 2-3 minutes. I added some sliced avocado to the pan, cooked it briefly, then plated it and threw a little bit of crumbled Gorgonzola on top. I did end up adding a little bit of pepper as an afterthought, although what it really needs, I think, is a tiny bit of pesto. I will try this next time and advise as to the results.

(Pesto really does make everything better, though. If I learned anything in Italy . . . )

I doubt this will become a food blog, because I lack the conviction to be a true foodie, but I have a few more ideas for future cooking posts, so this isn't the last you've heard of me and my kitchen shenanigans. If anyone has suggestions for healthy, veg-friendly meals, please share them in the comments and I'll give them a try. It would be great to hear about other peoples' experimentation.

ETA--Picture!