Bacon Studded Polenta with Tomato Gravy - Ciao, Yawl!

Bacon Studded Polenta with Tomato Gravy~

Some of us were born to color outside the lines, inside the lines and sometimes draw our own lines.  Combining Italian Polenta with crispy bacon bits, then smothering it with a deep Southern Tomato Gravy is one of those meals where the lines between the countries get blurred.  What comes out of this marriage of "Ciao and Chow" is good country eating, no matter what country you're talking about.

And speaking of countries, this month the Lets Lunch Bunch (my virtual lunch buddies from all over the globe) are celebrating a very special debut of a new cookbook:

Cowgirl Chef: Texas Cooking with a French accent.

Ellise (Cowgirl Chef) is a true Texan who has been living, learning, teaching, growing and loving in Paris, France for the last few years.  Her story of how she embraced her authentic and true self, talents and dreams by meeting the challenge of a brand new environment is inspiring (and the recipes are down right "must-makes.")  Ellise is one of the original foodbloggers to start our unique monthly lunch meeting online several years ago.  I was there for the very first one and we all made our own versions of a BLT sandwich.  It's a great example of one of the good things that come from our tech-driven journey.

This month's challenge was to create and share a meal that represented our own past experiences and another country, too (ala: Texas and France.)  

Picking something Italian was a no-brainer for me.  I've been obsessed with all things Italian for many years and will be fortunate enough to be packing this week to visit our good friends in Cossignano, Italy and stay at their Organic Agriturismo (Fiorano.)  Paolo and Paola are part of the Slow Food Movement and are very active in Organic wines, foods and conservation. 

Agriturismo Fiorano in Le Marche

I speak a little Italian from years of studying and soaking it up, although it seems to be with a good ol' Southern twang no matter how hard I try to pretend.

My grandmothers in North Carolina made Tomato Gravy and poured it over biscuits, toast, rice and grits.  It's a poor man's marinara sauce and it's packed with tomato bits, bacon flavor and rich roux.

Polenta is ground corn meal and considered an Italian comfort food.  Depending on the region, it's served warm and loose like soupy grits, or thick and cut into sections or even baked.  If you've seen the pre-made tubes of something they call Polenta in grocery stores, please don't judge Polenta by that gross congealed yellow tube food product (smiling, but serious.)  

Making Polenta is as easy as rice. There are just a few tips for making it successfully:

1)  When the liquid begins to simmer, rain in the Polenta grains.  This means do NOT pour it all in (that makes it clump.)  Rain it in, sprinkling it gradually and stirring while it goes.

2)  Reduce heat and stir often so not to scorch the Polenta.

3)  Keep in mind, it's easy to add a little more liquid if it's too thick, but not so easy to make it thicker if you add too much liquid too quickly.

4)  Adding butter makes it a little bit looser, cheese will make it a bit thicker.

The liquid used in Polenta, like rice, can be water or stock, milk, or something in your imaginative recipe developing "coloring book."

When I made this Bacon Studded Polenta smothered in Tomato Gravy, I also ate almost the whole plate of it.  So, be careful. :D

Check below to see the many varied and delectable recipes of country fusion cooking from other Let's Lunch pals: 

Chery's Goin Pork Curry Tacos at Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan
Eleanor‘s  Wok Picadillo at Wok Star
Ellise‘s Salty Lime Sablés (Margarita Cookies) at Cowgirl Chef
Emma‘s Kimchi Bulgogi Nachos at Dreaming of Pots And Pans
Felicia‘s Mexican-Lebanese Hummus at Burnt-Out Baker
Grace‘s Taiwanese Fried Chicken at HapaMama
Jill‘s Southern Pimento-Stuffed Knishes at Eating My Words
Joe‘s Grilled KimCheese Sandwich at Joe Yonan
Karen‘s Ukrainian-German Cabbage Rolls at GeoFooding
Leigh‘s Venezuelan-Italian Cachapas Con Queso at Leigh Nannini
Linda‘s Project Runway Pelau: Rice & Beans Trinidad-Style at Spicebox Travels
Linda‘s Edible Salad Totes at Free Range Cookies
Lisa‘s Sunday Night Jewish-Chinese Brisket at Monday Morning Cooking Club
Lucy‘s Coconut Rice Pudding with Mango at A Cook And Her Books
Nancie‘s Chili-Cheese Biscuits with Avocado Butter at Nancie McDermott
Rashda‘s Mango Cobbler at Hot Curries & Cold Beer
Renee‘s Asian-Spiced Quick Pickles at My Kitchen And I
Steff‘s Chicken Fried Steak at The Kitchen Trials
Vivian‘s Funky Fusion Linguini at Vivian Pei
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Recipe: Bacon Studded Italian Polenta-

3-4 pieces of Bacon

1 cup Nonfat Milk

1 cup Water

2 Tbls. Butter

salt, pepper

1)  In a skillet, cook the bacon on Med. until crispy, remove and chop into small pieces. Pour off the fat/grease and save for the Tomato Gravy.  Save the bacon coated skillet for cooking the gravy in also.

2)  In a deep saucepan, bring the water, milk, salt and pepper to a low simmer, stirring so the milk doesn't curdle.

3)  Rain in the Polenta, stirring constantly until the Polenta is creamy.  

4)  Reduce the heat to low, stir often so it doesn't scorch.  Now is when to add a bit more liquid if needed. Stir in the bacon pieces now.  Cook and stir often for about 15 minutes.  The Polenta should be thick for this recipe.

5)  Stir in the butter and turn out into a buttered 8x8 baking pan. Leave to room temp or chill for later.

Press into a buttered baking dish

6)  Before serving, cut into squares and triangles and broil or fry for just a couple minutes until crisp on the outside. *It can also be used without this step.

Recipe:  Tomato Gravy

1/4 cup Bacon fat (use butter if there's not enough bacon fat)

1/4 cup Flour

2-3 Tomatoes (peeled, chopped)

2 cups Stock (veggie or chicken) warmed

salt/pepper

1) Using the same pan the bacon was cooked in, add the bacon fat/butter and the flour, salt and pepper.  Cook and whisk on Med. until light brown and a nice roux has been created.

 

2)  Add the chopped tomatoes and any reserved juice from chopping.  Lower heat to Low/Med and Whisk together.

3)  Slowly whisk in the warmed stock and continue cooking on Low for about 15-20 minutes.  If it's too thick, add a little water or more stock a little at a time.  Season to taste.

4)  Serve poured over the Polenta or biscuits, rice or scrambled eggs. Mmmmm.

Congrats to Cowgirl Chef!  Hope to see you on tour!

Sweet Bok Choy Smoothie

There are a plethora of Green Smoothie recipes out there, but this one uses Bok Choy and is just so naturally sweet.

I've been traveling, which also means I've been eating non-stop. So, it's payback time, which means a couple days of protein juices and green smoothies for me. It's a way of hitting the re-set button for my body. After a couple days I'm more clear headed and can make better food choices naturally. It's what works for me. I've never been one to follow fad diets and I've always said it's just science; if you burn more calories than you take in there will be weight loss or at least maintenance. It doesn't make it easy, and it doesn't mean I do it, but it's still true.During my travels I visited New York. So, 'nuff said, right? How can you be in New York and not eat at Shake Shack, or Eataly, Back Forty West or Gennaro's? How can you not have a cupcake at Magnolias and a drink with appetizers at Saxon and Parole?Then I was in Boston (with their Oysters and Seafoods), then to North Carolina (I can't NOT eat Carolina Barbecue, it's a sin), and then Chicago (Rick Bayless is in Chicago, for goodness sake.) I'm only human.

When I returned home to Los Angeles there was a box from my Farm-to-Door program waiting for me. It was full of greens, and fruits and fresh healthy foods to help me get back on track. I'm loving these Green Shakes this year, and the combinations are limitless. I found that using Bok Choy, which has such a mild and light taste, made the shake naturally sweet and very easy to slurp right down to the last bit. Let me know if you have other combos you've been trying, and I hope your travels are tasty.Recipe: Sweet Bok Choy Smoothie

1 Bunch Fresh Bok Choy (loose chop)
1/2 Avocado
1/2 Orange (juice and zest)
1/2 Lemon (juice and zest)
1 apple (cored and quartered)
1 cup Cold Water or Ice

1) Place all ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth and creamy.
2) Serve chilled or freeze and re-blend for drinking later. (Good for about 3 days.)

Beer Braised Brussel Sprouts with Apples for Food Network "Pull Up A Chair"

I'm bringing these Beer Braised Brussel Sprouts with Apples to the Food Network's Virtual Thanksgiving Meal. It's a Communal Table online, so Pull up a Chair. I mean I'd love to have you join in, and also that's the name of the event, "Pull Up A Chair". Then, check out the entire menu for Food Network's Communal Table (below.)(the secret is browning the Brussel Sprouts first)

Along with giving you the recipe for this smokey sweet way to serve these petite cabbages, you'll also find links to just about any recipe idea for Thanksgiving you could ever want.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday and I could eat Turkey and Dressing about 7 times a week any time of the year. One of my grandmothers used to raise turkeys on her farm. When November came around I imagine there was extra gobbling and throat swallowing in the pen as all the turkeys felt the extra long gazes during the regular feeding time.

My mom taught me how to roast a turkey and always made an extra pan of dressing just for the leftovers the next day. Her mom had a true talent for gravy and her tip was: brown the flour in a cast iron skillet before adding the fat and stock. Her gravy was toasty brown and she knew better than to tell me what giblets were until I was a little older.(The Apples add just the right amount of sweet to the caramelized greens)

Over the years with my children we made pine cone turkeys for place holders, and construction paper Pilgrim Hats, and Paper Mache Cornucopias. Now that my youngest is a teenager, our family of 6 plan other projects.

One year, we created a giant wall art that each person participated in (and it still hangs in my dining room.) Another year, we each brought items to fill boxes for sending to soldiers stationed far from home.One year had a music theme and each person brought a CD, a record (yeah, can you imagine?), a video or a DVD of 2 favorite songs. We sat around the room as each person explained why they picked this song and then we listened to it. The choices ranged from my husband's favorite comedy album, my son-in-law's music from being a teen in Germany, a southern gospel song from my past, and others ending with my teen's favorite rap song. It was enlightening, to say the least, and we laughed our selves into exhaustion.Last year, each person participated in the making of the meal. When they arrived there was a recipe card, an apron and all their ingredients ready to create their dish. I stood by for guidance, but let them create and tweak the dish as much as they wanted. We took pics of the dishes and played music, gave each other a hard time and ended the meal the way we always wrap up Thanksgiving. One at a time we talk about what we are thankful for this past year and our hopes for the next one ahead. It gets emotional. It feels important. I love it so much.
I also love these Brussel Sprouts. I know, I know - not everyone does, but I still believe it's because not everyone has eaten them prepared well. It would be hard to find a side dish with more benefits than this and they add a nice balance to the rich gravy, dressing and pies to follow.

Recipe: Beer Braised Brussel Sprouts with Apple

1 Bunch Brussel Sprouts (cleaned, cut in half and dry)
1 Tbls. Butter
1 Tbls. Olive Oil
1 Shallot (minced)
1 Apple (peeled, cored and cubed)
1 Amber Ale, or other favorite Beer

1) Heat a skillet over med/high with butter and oil combined.
2) When the oil/butter is hot, add the brussel sprouts without crowding, cut side down. Allow to brown for a minute or so, then turn each one over to brown on other side.
3) Using tongs, remove the browned Brussel Sprouts to a dish for holding.
4) Reduce heat and add the minced shallot, stirring, for about 2 minutes or until tender.
5) Deglaze the pan, by pouring in 1/4 cup of the beer and stirring to release all the flavor.
6) Return the Brussel Sprouts to the pan, add the apple cubes and the rest of the beer.
7) Bring the heat to boil, then cover and turn down the heat to low. Braise for 12-15 minutes.
8) Remove the Brussel Sprouts and Apple with slotted spoon. You can serve like that, or drizzle with sauce, or continue heating the sauce on High for a couple minutes until it is reduced and thicker for serving over the greens.A sincere Happy Thanksgiving to all who stop by here and my deep wishes for a peaceful year~

Here's the whole gang with a giant table's worth of recipes:

Cocktails, Appetizers, Soups and Salads:
Eat Be Mary: She’s Mulling It Over Wine
Cookistry: Bread With Ancient Grains
Celebrity Chefs and Their Gardens: The American Hotel Peconic Clam Chowder
Picky Eater Blog: Butternut Squash Soup With Thyme and Parmesan
Good Food Good Friends: Mushroom Soup

Mains:
Examiner.com: Grilled Quail with a Warm Beet, Frisée, and Pistachio Salad
She Wears Many Hats: Mayonnaise Roasted Turkey

Sides:
Living Mostly Meatless: Vegan-Friendly Corn Casserole
Healthy Green Kitchen: Red Kuri Squash Pie
The Naptime Chef: Crispy Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes
Gluten-Free Blondie: Apple and Cranberry Studded Stuffing
Eat Drink Man Woman Dogs Cat: Blue Cheese and Rosemary Celebration Potatoes
Burnt Lumpia: Turkey, Sweet Potato and Cranberry Empanadas
Panfusine: Pan Fried Polenta Seasoned With Cumin, Ginger & Black Pepper
Homemade Cravings: Warm Brussels Sprouts and Cranberry Slaw
Bakeaholic Mama: Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Crispy Prosciutto
Show Food Chef: Beer-Braised Brussels Sprouts
T’s Tasty Bits: Sweet Empanadas with Pumpkin and Lupini Beans Filling
The Amused Bouche Blog: Braised Kale
The Little Kitchen: How to Make the Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Desserts:
The Macaron Queen: Macaron Tower
Poet In The Pantry: Amaretto Apple Crisp
Farm Girl Gourmet: Pumpkin Coconut Panna Cotta
That’s Forking Good: Cinnamon Chip Pumpkin Blondies
Out of the Box Food: Out of the Box Food Maple Pumpkin Pie
Cake Baker 35: Orange Spiced Pumpkin Pie
Lisa Michele: Pumpkin, Pecan, Cheesecake Pie
Food For My Family: Buttermilk Custard Pear Pie
Simple Bites: Black-Bottom Maple Pumpkin Pie
A Cooks Nook: Swedish Apple Pie
Yakima Herald: Pretzel Jell-O Salad
How Does She: Three of Our Favorite Desserts
Dollhouse Bake Shoppe: Thanksgiving Candy Bar Name Plates
Sweet Fry: Pumpkin Latte
Tasty Trials: Spiced Apple Panna Cotta With Caramelized Apples and Caramel Sauce
An Uneducated Palate: Puff Pastry Apple Tart
Frugal Front Porch: Mini Cheaty Cheesecakes

Even more:
Kitchen Courses: Thanksgiving for Six People Under $60
A Curious Palate: The Communal Table

Fresh Peas and Mint Risotto - inspired by "The Dirty Life"

This is a recipe inspired by a book inspired by a life. The recipe is with Fresh Peas cooked in milk and mint (then turned into Fresh Pea and Mint Risotto.)

The book is "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball. The life is Kristin's experience going from a city girl to falling in love with a man of the land, then falling in love with the land.

I have personal reasons for loving the idea of this book, but the story touched on themes universal and sustaining.

I spent my earliest years living with just a field of corn, vegetables, and berries between my house and my grandparent's survival farm. As a child, I watched the hard work of farming like my own personal theme park. The giant Shire horse that pulled the plow for my grandfather was the same one I shared a salt lick with in the hay barn. It didn't occur to me, that he was also the source of indispensable strength required to work the soil.



My brother, cousins and I built many elaborately chambered forts of hay bales that had recently been tediously gathered and tied for feed. We threw grains to the chickens and gathered eggs when we felt like joining in, not knowing it was a daily chore the adults were bound to every morning at dawn. We ran through the yard from escaped pigs, not reading the concerned faces of the tired parents who had already spent this season's budget on fence repairs.

We'd grab the handle for churning butter and claim our success after a few strokes, leaving the rest of the hour to Grandma. We stole strawberries and mulberries from the vines for our own red stained version of paintball wars. We sprinkled salt into one palm of our hands and dipped fresh hot juicy tomatoes into it and ate them like apples. We'd sit in the yard with a lap full of chores and feel besieged with suffering that we couldn't go play until we had snapped our little bowl of green beans, or shucked our share of corn.Grandma gave us steaming buttermilk biscuits that we poked holes into and filled with molasses to eat while we headed out for the day on what we thought were newly forged faraway pathways through the woods. We returned late in the afternoon, grouchy with exhaustion from our difficult day of work and exploration. Later, as an adult I realized it was only about a city block in distance away from the main house.

For these and other memories of farm living, "The Dirty Life" gave me a new appreciation for how much work had been going on around my little world.If I had never experienced a farm, Kristin Kimball's book would still be on my bedside table. Her writing tone feels like a letter to a friend, and somewhere in there I start feeling like I am the friend.

Through the journey of her falling in love with her husband, community, animals and nature, I am inspired. In her words, "Why is farming like a relationship? Because you do not reap what you sow. That's a lie. You reap what you sow, hill, cultivate, fertilize, harvest, and store."Along the way, Kristin casually tosses us a few recipe and cooking ideas. One of my favs is cooking fresh summer peas in a saucepan of milk briefly, then adding a few sprigs of mint.After gathering our first season peas from my tiny little "dog run" size garden, I turned the minted peas into a Risotto for a family dinner.Obviously I really enjoyed this book, so you can imagine how exciting it was to have Kristin Kimball join in during an online virtual book club meeting this past week. She was generous and funny, spoke of her two kids being watched by her farmer husband, Mark, while our book club tweeted comments and questions regarding her writing, her inspirations and her plans.

At one point Mark brought her a plate of fresh and simply prepared asparagus and she mentioned how the right ingredients were so much more important than the recipe to her. It was a joy.

This online book club was hosted by Allison for Leite's Culinaria (David Leite). You are invited to join us for the next event/book which will be decided soon. It's a great way to challenge and encourage yourself to carve out time for reading and then discussing what we read without even leaving your own home/office. A time is set, you go on twitter and put in the subject #LCBookClub and join in the meeting.(Here's a special treat: there will be another time with Kristin Kimball this coming Tuesday night, June 13th, 2011 at 9PM EST. Even if you haven't read the book (yet), stop by and experience the energy.)

RECIPE: Fresh Peas & Mint Risotto

2 cups fresh peas
2 cups milk
pinch of salt
1 Tbls fresh mint leaves or chopped in pieces
3 Tbls. Butter
3 Tbls. Olive Oil
1 small Shallot (chopped)
1 cup Arborio rice
1/4 cup white wine (or non alcoholic Verjon)
1 qt. stock (vegetable or chicken)
1/2 cup grated cheese (parmigiano or pecorino work well)

1) In a small saucepan, bring the peas and milk to a simmer for about 2-3 minutes, then add the mint and salt. Remove the pan from heat and hold.

2) In a sided skillet over med. heat, cook the shallot in the butter and oil until tender (about 3-5 minutes).

3) Add the rice and stir (season with salt) until the rice turns opaque (about 5-10 minutes).

4) Add the wine and stir to deglaze the skillet until almost all the liquid has been incorporated (au sec.)

5) Add the stock, one cup at a time, for 3 times. Stirring between each addition until the liquid is absorbed and the rice begins to create its own sauce.

6) Stir in the milk and the peas (as you did the stock), continuing to incorporate and cook the rice. Use the rest of the stock as needed to stir in and keep the Risotto creamy. Season to taste.

7) Stir in the grated cheese, briefly and serve with more grated cheese as desired.

Southern Turnips and Greens - Simple Saturday

I grew up familiar with the smell of Turnips and Turnip Greens simmering away in a big pot with a chunk of salt pork adding its porcine punch. I've helped pull those purple topped roots out of the ground, washed them off, peeled and chopped them. I've helped scrub the leaves which hold on to the nourishing grit of the soil unless they get dunked and swished with a heavy hand. And I hated them. Knowing there are so many foods I didn't enjoy as a child, and then fell in love with as an adult gives me comfort. When my kids used to turn up their noses to healthy vegetables, and I became an expert in negotiating for a balanced diet, I tried to remember my own culinary journey. I've tried to not get stressed about my teenager not liking pickled things, or cole slaw, or egg plant. I left all those same foods on my plate, too. Today? My plate hardly needs washing because there is never anything left on it. I think curiosity, education and exposure has made an enormous difference. It astounds me there are so many adults who have allowed themselves to be trapped in a food box of meat and potatoes with a feeling of "if I don't eat it already, I don't need to start now" kind of mentality. What a world of tastes and experiences they are missing.
I've watched my adult daughter grow into a good cook, an experimental and curious eater, and she used to snub almost everything green. I believe as long as we keep trying, making good food available, show by example and make food events (whether at the table or out in the world) a fun and stress-free time, our kids will grow into good healthy eaters.
If you haven't ever tried Southern Turnips and Greens or you had them as a kid and couldn't stand them - it's time to give them a try. The iron and minerals in Turnips and Greens are worth the chance that you might fall in love with them, too.

RECIPE: Southern Turnips and Greens

1 bunch Turnip Greens (wash well, strip from stalks and chopped large)
2 Fresh Turnips (wash, peel and cut into cubes)
Small piece of Salt Pork
1/2 onion chopped
salt/pepper
1 quart Chicken Stock (or vegetable stock)

1) In a large pot, heat the salt pork and the chopped onions on Low/Med. heat until tender (about 5 minutes.)

2) Pour in the stock, then add the chopped greens, turnip cubes and pepper. Salt to taste, but be careful as the salt pork adds some too.

3) Bring the pot to a boil, then turn the heat down to low/simmer and cover. Cook for about 1 1/2 hours. Stir now and then to keep it even.

These are so good just served alone, but also good over rice or as a side dish with fish, chicken, beef or pork.

The juice left over is called "Pot Liquor" and you can sop this up with a good buttermilk biscuit to put a real smile on your face :D

Dandelion is the new Kale - Simple Saturday

Dandelion Chips w/ Sea Salt

Kale Chips have been king long enough. Actually, I love Kale Chips and I've watched so many friends and kids who thought they didn't like greens end up snacking away on baked and seasoned Kale Chips by the dozen. If for any reason, you have not tried them - the simple recipe is the same as the one I've included here for Dandelion Chips. I have a bit of an obsession with Dandelions, as you can read about here (Dandelion Sun-dried Tomato Bread Pudding.) On my quest to see just how many products I can actually make with these loyal, fierce and underestimated miracle plants, I tried Dandelion Chips.

They bake up so easy and I can't wait to try them with different seasonings: chipotle powder, curry or maybe powdered chives (Mmmm.)As you might expect, Dandelion Chips are more delicate than the hardy and curly Kale, and the taste can be more bitter (a nice break from the too sweet and processed bagged chips.) I loved these with sea salt sprinkled all over. They melt in your mouth like dandelion air, and I think they'd make a perfect garnish on mashed potatoes, added to salads, or crushed and sprinkled over casseroles. Dandelion Chips:

1) Wash, dry and break dandelion greens into large pieces. Discard any thick ribs.

2) Drizzle a bit of Olive oil on the greens and toss with your hands to lightly coat all the leaves.

3) Place in a single layer onto a baking sheet. Bake at 350F for about 8-12 minutes. Keep an eye on them so not to burn.

4) Remove pan from the oven, sprinkle the leaves with seasonings (I used Sea Salt) and allow to cool. That's it - simple~ Let me know if you try Dandelion Chips and if you have ideas for other ways to use them. Have a dandy day :D