Slow Roasted Italian Pork With Polenta Food

SLOW COOKED HEARTY PORK STEW

Steps:

• Trim the roast of fat, and cut into 1-inch pieces.
• Place the flour in a plastic bag, dump in the pork pieces and shake the bag until coated.
• Heat half the oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch Oven, and cook half the pork pieces over medium heat until lightly browned.
• If Using a Slow Cooker, place the browned pork pieces in the slow cooker, then continue to brown the remaining pieces, and place these in the slow cooker when browned as well.
• Dump the rest of the browned pork and remaining stew ingredients except the garnish into the slow cooker and turn it on low for 8 hours.
• If using a Dutch Oven, after browning the meat, remove it to a plate, and saute the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Return the meat to the pot along with the remaining stew ingredients except the topping.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer,cover, and cook for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until the rest is very tender.
• Just before the stew is finished, chop the topping ingredients together.
• Serve the stew on polenta, or in bowls with a sprinkling of Gremolata on top.

PORK WITH ROSEMARY POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the mustard, vinegar, chopped rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a bowl; brush all over the pork. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pork and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and roast until a thermometer registers 145 degrees F, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pork to a cutting board and let rest.
• Wipe out the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, the garlic and red pepper flakes; cook over medium heat, 2 minutes. Add the broccoli, 1/4 cup water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cover; cook 5 minutes.
• Bring 3 cups water, the milk, rosemary sprig and 1/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat; discard the rosemary. Whisk in the polenta and cook, whisking, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan. Slice the pork and serve with the broccoli and polenta.

ITALIAN PORK CHILI WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Roast the bell pepper over a gas flame, turning with tongs, or broil until the skin is blackened. Transfer to a bowl, cover and let cool. Peel, seed and chop the pepper. Heat the EVOO in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and pancetta and cook until well browned. Add the ground pork, thyme, fennel seeds, garlic, chile peppers, onions, oregano and roasted red peppers and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute. Deglaze with the wine, stirring and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add 2 to 3 cups chicken stock and simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to combine. Bring 2 cups chicken stock and the milk to a low boil in a saucepan. Whisk in the polenta and cook, whisking, until thick but pourable, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the butter and then the cheese, stirring until melted. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle the polenta into shallow bowls and hollow out the center. Fill with the chili and top with more cheese. Garnish with parsley. Cook's Note: The chili can be covered and refrigerated for a make-ahead meal. Reheat over medium heat, and prepare the polenta before serving.

CREAMY SLOW-COOKER POLENTA WITH SAUSAGES

Steps:

• Whisk together the polenta, roasted red peppers, marinara, garlic, olive oil, oregano, garlic powder and 1 teaspoon salt in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Whisk in 5 1/2 cups of water. Cook on low for 6 hours. (The polenta will keep very well on warm.)
• About 10 or 15 minutes before you want to eat, heat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly coat an oven-safe skillet with olive oil, and roast the sausages in the skillet in the oven until sizzling and browned, about 10 minutes. Remove the skillet and put it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Add a little more oil if the pan is relatively dry. Add the capers and pepperoncini to the hot skillet with the sausages, and let the capers pop, 1 or 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Stir the Parmesan into the polenta. The polenta will continue to firm up as it cools; stir in a few tablespoons of water if you would like it to be looser. Serve the polenta in shallow bowls topped with sausages, capers and pepperoncini. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

ROASTED PORK CHOPS WITH POLENTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large, oven safe skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat; season pork chops with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side; remove from skillet and set aside.
• Add the remaining tablespoon oil to the skillet, add tomatoes, garlic; season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes; add wine and simmer until the tomatoes begin to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Return pork chops to skillet and nestle into the tomatoes; cook in the oven until the chops are cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring 3 cups water to a boil in a saucepan.
• Whisk in polenta and cook, while whisking, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Whisk in the cheese, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.