Pumpkin Polenta With Parmesan Food

SLOW COOKER PUMPKIN-PARMESAN POLENTA

Steps:

• In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, whisk together the polenta with 10 cups of water, then whisk in the pumpkin. Scatter in 4 tablespoons butter, cut into bits; the salt; a generous amount of pepper; the thyme sprig; 1 sprig of the sage; and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Cook on low for 6 hours, whisking once or twice if possible. (This can hold very well on warm for several hours.)
• Break the cream cheese into pieces and drop them into the polenta; whisk to melt the cream cheese and combine. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg, then stir in the grated Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
• In a medium skillet, melt the remaining 8 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Pick the leaves from the remaining sage sprigs, and when the butter is melted, drop them in. Cook the butter and the sage, swirling the pan often, until the butter solids start to turn medium-brown and smell toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; butter goes from browned to burned in seconds.) Remove the pan from the heat immediately and swirl the browned butter-sage mixture into the polenta. Serve the polenta in a large platter or shallow bowl, topped with a bit more Parmesan and more nutmeg if desired.
• In a large pot, bring 10 cups of water to boil over high heat. Add the polenta in a steady steam while whisking constantly. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low. (You want the polenta-water mixture to be steaming hot, but not boiling.) Continue to whisk constantly for about 3 minutes, until the polenta and water have formed a smooth mixture. Whisk in the pumpkin, 4 tablespoons butter, the salt, a generous amount of pepper, the thyme sprig, 1 sage sprig and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg. Once all the ingredients are combined, cover and cook for 40 minutes, whisking well every 10 minutes.
• Uncover the pot and cook for about 1 hour more, whisking every 10 minutes, until the polenta is smooth and tender, and the mixture has thickened and is creamy but not runny.
• Break the cream cheese into small pieces and drop them into the polenta; whisk to melt the cream cheese and combine. Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg and the grated Parmesan. Taste and add more salt if necessary.
• Melt the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a medium skillet. Pick the leaves from the remaining sage sprigs and when the butter is melted, drop them in. Cook the butter and the sage, swirling the pan often, until the butter solids start to turn medium brown and smell toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't walk away; butter goes from browned to burned in seconds.) Remove the pan from the heat immediately and swirl the browned butter-sage mixture into the polenta. Serve the polenta in a large platter or shallow bowl, topped with a bit more Parmesan and more nutmeg if desired.

CREAMY PUMPKIN POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large heavy saucepan, bring water and salt to a boil., Reduce heat to a gentle boil; slowly whisk in cornmeal and nutmeg. Cook and stir with a wooden spoon for 15-20 minutes or until polenta is thickened and pulls away cleanly from the sides of the pan. Stir in pumpkin and cream cheese until smooth. Sprinkle each serving with pumpkin seeds if desired.

PUMPKIN POLENTA WITH VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the Brussels sprouts and butternut squash with the olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Spread in an even layer. Bake until tender and browned, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring 4 cups water, the milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in the polenta. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring often, until creamy, about 6 minutes. Whisk in the pumpkin puree. Cook, whisking, until warmed through, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the grated parmesan, butter and sage; season with salt. Top each serving with the roasted vegetables and shaved parmesan; drizzle with olive oil.

PUMPKIN POLENTA WITH PARMESAN

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Salute sage, shallot, garlic, salt and pepper for 2 minuted. Add both, cover and bring to rolling simmer. Whisk in cornmeal gradually. Cook stirring with a wooden spoon for 10 to 12 minutes or until thick enough to leave a trail bottom of pan. Stir in pumpkin. Cook, stirring for 2 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese and remaining butter. Serve immediately with additional cheese (if desired).

CREAMY PARMESAN POLENTA

Steps:

• Add the water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the 2 teaspoons of salt and gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Add the butter, and stir until melted. Stir in the Parmesan and incorporate well. This will slightly thicken the polenta. Add the cream and 1 teaspoon of black pepper and stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Taste the polenta, and add a little more salt and a little ground black pepper, if necessary. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

PUMPKIN POLENTA CAKE

Steps:

• Adjust rack to lower third of oven; preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10-inch angel food tube pan. For best results, have all ingredients at room temperature.
• Sift together the flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. Using an electric mixer, preferably with a paddle attachment, beat the butter at medium speed until creamy and smooth. Add the brown and granulated sugars; beat until light. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce mixer speed to low; add the pumpkin puree and polenta. Add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture alternately with the milk, ending with the dry ingredients, and stir just until well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
• Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out free of raw batter. Remove the pan from the oven and place on a wire rack. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Invert the cake onto the wire rack; remove the cake pan. Let the cake cool completely before slicing.

CREAMY PUMPKIN POLENTA

Steps:

• Bring water or stock and salt to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Stir in pumpkin.
• SLOWLY pour in corn meal while continuously stirring.
• An easy way of doing this is to pick up handfuls of cornmeal and let it run through your fingers in a very SLOW stream. NEVER STOP STIRRING.
• If mixture gets too thick and impossible to stir, add more boiling liquid.
• Once cornmeal has been added, stir in the small pieces of cream cheese (a little at a time) until cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the mixture.
• Continue cooking and stirring for about twenty minutes.
• If you don't cook the polenta long enough, you won't achieve the proper creamy consistency.
• Continue to add additional liquid as necessary.
• The proper consistency should be that of a thick Cream Of Wheat Cereal.
• Your spoon should be able to stand straight up when stuck in the middle and the mixture should pull away from the sides of the pot.
• Serve with pat of butter and enjoy!

PUMPKIN-SAGE POLENTA

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring the milk and water to a boil over medium heat.
• Add in pumpkin and salt; stir using a whisk.
• Lower heat to low and gradually whisk in polenta.
• Cook polenta 1 minute or until thick.
• Remove from heat.
• Add 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese, cream cheese, and sage; stir until cheeses melt.
• Top with shaved parmesan--serve immediately.

POLENTA PARMESAN

Steps:

• Gradually add cornmeal to the salted boiling water, stirring frequently so there are no lumps.
• When it comes to a boil reduce heat to medium, cook stirring frequently for 40 minutes.
• Stir in 5 oz of butter, 4oz grated parmesan and nutmeg.
• Pour polenta in an oven-proof pan cover with waxed paper and set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Dot with remaining butter and parmesan.
• Bake for 30 minutes until top is brown and crispy.