Polenta With Pears And Cranberries Recipes

CREAMY POLENTA WITH BACON AND CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• For the polenta: Bring the broth, 2 1/2 cups water and the salt to a boil in a heavy 5-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually whisk in the polenta. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the Parmesan, milk and butter. Stir until the butter and Parmesan have melted. Season with salt and pepper.
• For assembly: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the bacon in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until brown and crispy, 15 to 17 minutes. Drain on paper towels. When the bacon is cool enough to handle, chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside.
• Whisk together the mascarpone cheese, maple syrup and salt in a small bowl until smooth.
• Transfer the polenta to 4 bowls or serving plates. Divide the bacon pieces and spoon on top. Dollop each serving with the mascarpone mixture and sprinkle with the dried cranberries.

PEAR AND POLENTA

Steps:

• For the parmesan polenta: Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a heavy saucepan. When the water is boiling, add the salt and pepper and then gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until it thickens and the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the Parmesan and butter.
• Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet and spread out into a uniform layer. Refrigerate until the polenta sets and is firm to the touch.
• For the gorgonzola cheese sauce: Put the cream, gorgonzola, salt and pepper in a pan over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the ingredients have melted together, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer inserted in the oil registers 350 degrees F.
• Cut the firm polenta into squares (2 inch by 2 inch) and deep-fry in the oil until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
• For the pear and toppings: Heat a grill pan or preheat a grill on medium-high heat. Grill the pear halves to give grill marks and slightly soften, about 3 minutes.
• Put a square of polenta on a plate and stand up the pear halves next to it. Top with the gorgonzola sauce and finish by sprinkling the fresh basil, pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes over the top.

POLENTA WITH ASPARAGUS, PEAS AND MINT

Steps:

• If cooking polenta on stovetop: In a medium pot over high heat, combine 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how finely the polenta is ground (coarse-ground polenta takes longer).
• Alternatively, cook polenta in oven: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium Dutch oven or other oven-safe pot over high heat, bring 4 1/2 cups water, polenta and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Reduce heat to medium, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to thicken slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover pot and transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, then give the mixture a stir. If it looks dry, add another 1/2 cup water. Cover the pot once more, and continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes.
• When polenta is thick and creamy, stir in 2 to 4 of the tablespoons butter (depending on how buttery you like it) and the Parmesan. Taste and add more Parmesan and salt, if needed.
• As the polenta cooks, prepare the vegetables: In a large skillet, heat oil over medium. Add shallots and sauté until tender and golden, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Stir in garlic and cook for another minute or two, until fragrant and very lightly golden in spots. Add vermouth and cook until alcohol evaporates, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir in asparagus and peas, and cook until vegetables are glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add stock, remaining 2 tablespoons butter and a large pinch of salt, and bring to a simmer. Cook until vegetables are tender and sauce thickens slightly, 2 to 8 minutes. (Thicker asparagus will take longer to soften.) Stir in the mint. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• To serve, spoon polenta into bowls, top with vegetables and their sauce, and grind on lots of fresh pepper. Finish with shaved Parmesan.

PEAR AND CRANBERRY UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cut a rectangle out of waxed paper to fit an 8x12-inch cake pan. Spray the pan with cooking spray, then place waxed paper liner over the bottom.
• Melt butter in a large skillet. Add 2 cups sugar and cook until sugar has dissolved and mixture is bubbling, about 3 minutes. Add pear slices; reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and add cranberries.
• Whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg together in a bowl.
• Combine remaining 2 cups sugar, milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in another bowl using a hand mixer until cake batter is smooth. Gradually mix in dry ingredients until well combined. Fold in walnuts.
• Pour pear-cranberry mixture into the prepared cake pan. Use a spatula to spread cake batter evenly on top of fruit.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 70 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Place a platter on top of the cake pan and carefully flip the pan and platter over, allowing the cake to settle on the platter. Lift cake pan off and serve.

CRANBERRY PEARS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine water, sugar and cinnamon. Add pears; bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in cranberries. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Serve warm or chilled.

PEAR AND CRANBERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease an 10-inch tube pan.
• Place pears, cranberries , brown sugar and cinnnamon in a medium sized bowl. Stir to combine . Reserve.
• Beat eggs, and sugar until combined. Add oil, orange juice and vanilla. Beat well. Add remaining dry ingredients, beating just until combined. Batter will be thick.
• Spoon 2/3 of the batter into the prepared pan. Place pear mixture over batter. Spoon remaining batter over pear mixture. Do not worry if pear mixture is not completely covered. Sprinkle coarse sugar over batter.
• Bake in preheated oven 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

BREAKFAST POLENTA WITH DRIED CRANBERRIES AND ALMONDS

Steps:

• Place the milk and cranberries in a medium, heavey saucepan. Bring the milk almost to a boil, turn off the heat and let sit until the cranberries are soft and plump, about 5 minutes.
• Toast almonds in dry fry pan over medium heat, shaking offten and being careful not to burn.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cranberries to a small bowl. Bring the milk almost back to a boil (if using cinnamon or dried orange peel option add now) and whisk in the polenta in a very slow, steady stream (if not done this way you will get lumps). Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the polenta thickens and starts to pull away ftom the sides of the pan, about 3-5 minutes.
• Stir in the cranberries and divide among individual bowls.
• Sprinkle the toasted almonds over each bowl and drizzle with honey.