Polenta is a comfort food that has become an expensive, gourmet dish.  With our recipe, it can be elegant or simple, inexpensive to make, and always delicious! 

In a pot on the stove, mix approximately 4 cups of water to a boil.  Stir in 2 cups of corn meal with a bit of salt and olive oil.  It will bubble and make you feel like you are cooking a mysterious concoction in a science lab!  Pour it into a lightly oiled baking pan and smooth it out.  It can be thick or thin, depending upon how much water you added and the size of the pan!  On top of the corn meal you can let your imagination run wild!  Perhaps you want to add sliced tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella chees!  Maybe you want to top it with tomato sauce, breaded/fried squash slices, or meat balls, a mixtures of fresh vegetables – or you can just top it with a little cheese.  Pop it in the oven at 400 degrees until it starts to be golden brown.  Pull it out and let it sit for a couple of minutes so it will hang together better when you slice it.  Eat it as a main dish with a salad, or turn it into a pizza dinner!

It must be said that some people make it on the thicker side and cook it plain, then fry it in a little butter and add maple syrup to eat it for breakfast!   This is one of those goods that beg you to use your imagination to see what you will transform it into next!  It costs pennies compared to buying it in a fancy restaurant, and it’s so good for you!