Sweet Polenta Crostini With Mascarpone Raspberries Pistachios And Lavendar Honey Food

POLENTA CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add 2 teaspoons salt and the nutmeg and reduce the heat to the medium. Add the polenta gradually, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk for 5 minutes as the mixture bubbles. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to come away from the sides of the pan, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon thyme and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine thoroughly.
• Invert a rimmed baking sheet on a countertop and cover the surface with parchment paper. Spread the polenta out with a spatula into a smooth, even layer. Cover the polenta with another sheet of parchment paper. Place another baking sheet, right side up, on top of the parchment. With 2 hands, press down evenly on the top baking sheet until the polenta is 1/4 inch thick. The idea is to sandwich the polenta between 2 flat surfaces. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Invert the baking sheets together. Remove the top baking sheet and the top layer of parchment paper. The smoother side of the polenta will be facing up. Cut the polenta into triangle about 2 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide. Transfer the triangles to 1 or more baking sheets, spacing them 1/2-inch apart. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup of the remaining Parmesan cheese and the remaining thyme on top of triangles.
• Bake the crostini until hot throughout and starting to brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and broil the crostini about 8 inches from the heat source until crispy and golden brown on top, about 3 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Calories: 21; Total Fat 0.5 grams; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Protein: 1 grams; Total carbohydrates: 3 grams; Sugar: 0 grams Fiber: 0 grams; Cholesterol: 1 milligrams; Sodium: 123 milligrams

SWEET POLENTA CROSTINI WITH MASCARPONE, RASPBERRIES, PISTACHIOS AND WILD FOREST HONEY

Steps:

• Prepare the polenta: lightly grease an 8 × 4-inch loaf pan with vegetable oil and set aside. Bring the water to a rolling boil in a large pot. Add the salt, then gradually sprinkle in the cornmeal, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Keep stirring after the last of the cornmeal has been added; the mixture will begin to thicken quite quickly. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the polenta for about 30 to 40 minutes, stirring frequently. Spoon a little of the polenta onto a plate and taste it: when it is no longer crunchy and granular, it's done. Scrape the polenta into the loaf pan, flattening the top and pressing the mass into a rough rectangle, ending halfway to two-thirds down the length of the pan. This sounds a little confusing, but you should now have a 2-inch-thick rectangle of polenta pressed into the loaf pan. It will be very stiff and have no trouble staying put. Cool the polenta to room temperature, then press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours, or up to 3 days.
• No more than 2 or 3 hours before you plan to serve the dessert, remove the loaf pan from the refrigerator and unmould the polenta. With a long, thinbladed knife, slice the loaf into ¼-inch thick slices and cut each of these in half. You should end up with about 24 2-inch squares, ¼-inch thick. Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and ½ tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large frying pan (nonstick is fine) over medium heat. When the foam subsides, add half of the polenta slices and fry about 4 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp on both sides. Carefully transfer the slices to a platter lined with paper towels and sprinkle the slices with half of the sugar. Repeat with the remaining butter, oil, polenta and sugar. Cool the sugared polenta slices to room temperature.
• To assemble the crostini, spoon the mascarpone into a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip (about ½ inch or so). Pipe a generous amount of mascarpone on each polenta square and arrange two or three raspberries on the cheese. Press some pistachio pieces around the berries into the cheese and drizzle the crostini with a little of the honey (a honey dripper or even a teaspoon dipped into the jar then waved over the squares works really well-don't even bother measuring the honey!). The finished crostini should be eaten as soon as possible, but can be kept covered at room temperature for a few hours.

POLENTA WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan bring 5 cups water and salt to a boil then reduce to a bare simmer. Add polenta in a thin stream, stirring constantly; it will take about 10 minutes to add it all and will be fairly thick. Cook over low heat, 20 minutes, stirring constantly. Add melted butter, 4 tablespoons of the mascarpone, milk and nutmeg. Stir well.
• Pour hot polenta mixture into a very wide, warmed serving bowl. Top decoratively with mascarpone in 8 heaping spoonfuls. Serve immediately. Pass pepper mill and a bowl of extra mascarpone, if desired.

SWEET MASCARPONE AND BERRIES WITH MARSALA

Steps:

• Beat cheese,confectioners' sugar and citrus zest until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Line 4 dessert glasses or cocktail glasses with divided lady ingers. Mix berries with sugar and Marsala and let stand for at least 10 minutes. Spoon berries into dessert dishes on top of ladyfingers, then top with mascarpone and more berries.

CROSTINI WITH MASCARPONE, BERRIES AND HONEY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread slices on a baking sheet and toast for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Arrange the toasts on a platter and spread about 1 teaspoon of marscarpone on each one.
• Arrange berries on top and drizzle lightly with honey.
• Serve immediately.
• NOTE: An attractive alternative for a brunch or dinner party is to arrange a soft, creamy blue cheese, a strong Cheddar, and a triple-cream cheese in a basket. Place slices of toasted raisin-nut bread around the cheese. Place a pot of honey in the basket and let your guests make their own selection and combination.