Barefoot Contessas Rosemary Polenta Food

ROSEMARY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary, salt, and pepper and saute for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock(or veg.), half-and-half, and milk and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and slowly sprinkle the cornmeal into the hot milk while stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, until thickened and bubbly.
• Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan.
• Pour into a 9x13x2" pan, smooth the top, and refrigerate until firm and cold.
• Cut the chilled polenta into 12 squares, like you would with brownies. Lift each one out with a spatula and cut diagonally into triangles.
• Dust each triangle lightly in flour.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large saute pan and cook the triangles in batches over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until browned on the outside and heated inside. Add more butter and oil, as needed. Serve immediately.

THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA

Steps:

• Place the lime juice, agave nectar and mango puree in the bottom of a cocktail shaker. Add the rosemary leaves and using a wooden spoon or stick, muddle the rosemary to release the oils. Add the sherry, tequila and a pinch of chili powder. Shake the drink and strain to remove the rosemary leaves. Add ice and shake again vigorously.
• On a small plate, mix together a pinch of chipotle chili powder with the cane sugar. Run the slice of lime around one-quarter of the edge of each cocktail glass and dip it in the sugar mixture.
• Strain the drink into the cocktail glasses and garnish with the rosemary stem.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S ROSEMARY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan.
• Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary, salt, and pepper and sauté for 1 minute.
• Add the chicken stock, half-and-half, and milk and bring to a boil.
• Remove from the heat and slowly sprinkle the cornmeal into the hot milk while stirring constantly with a whisk.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, until thickened and bubbly.
• Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan.
• Pour into a 9 X 13 X 2-inch pan, smooth the top, and refrigerate until firm and cold.
• Cut the chilled polenta into 12 squares, as you would with brownies.
• Lift each one out with a spatula and cut diagonally into triangles.
• Dust each triangle lightly in flour.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large sauté pan and cook the triangles in batches over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until browned on the outside and heated inside.
• Add more butter and oil, as needed.
• Serve immediately.
• **Cook time does not include refrigeration time.

ROSEMARY POLENTA

Steps:

• Heat the butter and olive oil in a large saucepan. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, rosemary, salt, and pepper and saute for 1 minute. Add the chicken stock, half-and-half, and milk and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and slowly sprinkle the cornmeal into the hot milk while stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for a few minutes, until thickened and bubbly. Off the heat, stir in the Parmesan. Pour into a 9 by 13 by 2-inch pan, smooth the top, and refrigerate until firm and cold.
• Cut the chilled polenta into 12 squares, as you would with brownies. Lift each one out with a spatula and cut diagonally into triangles. Dust each triangle lightly in flour. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large saute pan and cook the triangles in batches over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning once, until browned on the outside and heated inside. Add more butter and oil, as needed. Serve immediately.

ROSEMARY ROASTED CASHEWS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the nuts on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes until they are warmed through.
• Meanwhile, combine the rosemary, pepper, sugar, salt and butter in a large bowl.
• Toss the warm nuts with the rosemary mixture until the nuts are completely coated.
• Serve warm.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S PROVENCAL TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Cut the cores from the tomatoes, removing as little as possible.
• Cut them in half crosswise and, with your fingers, remove the seeds and juice.
• Place the tomato halves in a baking dish.
• In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs, scallions, basil, parsley, garlic, thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Sprinkle the tomato halves generously with salt and pepper.
• With your hands, fill the cavities and cover the tops of the tomatoes with the bread crumb mixture.
• Bake the tomatoes for 15 minutes, or until they're tender.
• Sprinkle with the cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 30 seconds more.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S PARMESAN CHICKEN STICKS

Steps:

• Lay the chicken breasts on a cutting board and slice each diagonally into 4 or 5 large strips.
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a dinner plate.
• Beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water on a second plate.
• Combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan on a third plate.
• Dredge the chicken breasts on both sides in the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and roll in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly to coat.
• Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook the chicken strips on medium-low heat for about 3 minutes on each side, until just cooked through.
• Don't crowd the pan.
• Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken breasts.
• Serve each strip on a skewer or stick.
• You can keep the chicken breasts warm for about 15 minutes on a sheet pan in a preheated 200 degree F oven.