Polenta

This recipe comes courtesy of Taryn over at Taryn Rucci.  Thanks Taryn!!

Ingredients -

1 cup of instant or fine polenta
4 cups chicken stock
Good seasoning of salt
Few teaspoons dried mixed herbs (you can use fresh, or whatever you have)
1 cup cheese (any type). I use cheddar

Put the polenta, stock and salt in a saucepan. Mix well. Put on the stovetop. Bring to the boil. Let it simmer for 10 minutes or so. If you use "normal" polenta it will take longer - normally about 30 minutes or so. Just read the packed instructions. Let it simmer until it thickens nicely. Take it off the heat and stir through cheese.

You can serve it like that OR

Pour mixture into a rectangle baking dish and wait till it has set. You can then cut it into slices and serve. OR

Pour mixture into rectangle baking dish and put in the fridge to set for a few hours. You can then cut into slices and either fry these or grill these. For extra crispiness coat them in flour and fry with a little oil.

You can try putting mushrooms, spring onions, tomatoes, spinach, feta, capsicum, sliced olives, garlic, zucchini or just about anything in with the polenta. Include this in the first step when all ingredients are combined before putting on the heat.

You can use polenta as a substitute to pasta in a lasagne. Its yummy topped with a tomato based sauce.