Polenta

Lately, I've been to some very good Italian restaurants and Polenta was on the menu. As a little girl in Italy, Polenta was one of my favorite Primo Piatto. The process is long but straight forward. One needs:

1 pound coarsely ground corn meal, preferably stone-ground.
2 quarts boiling water, keep some water boiling on the side.
A teaspoon of salt.

Boil water in a wide bottomed pot and add the salt. When it comes to a boil, slowly add the corn meal stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, always stir in the same direction, to keep lumps from forming. Keep stirring for abut 40 minutes.

Of course Polenta requires a tasty topping. a few examples: Marinara sauce, Meatballs, Sausages, Broccoletti and Sausages, Ricotta and all kinds of Cheeses and vegetables....on and on. This is a very creative dish with many ways to cook and top it.
Polenta is not only a savory dish but it can also be made as a dessert. If there are any leftovers it can be equally tasty, fried, grilled or just left plain with your choice of sweet or savory toppings. For savory: Just about anything but I especially like it with a light fresh tomato sauce and fried until crispy. And for sweet: Top it with honey, nuts, ricotta or fruits. Enjoy!!!

Back at the restaurant, I eagerly order my Polenta and find it not to be authentic. What a disappointment. its not my memory of it at all. My beautiful memories, of my family taking turns stirring the Polenta. While we stirred, We laughed, told jokes and drank wine as we patiently waited for the perfect meal.

These memories of Polenta are tempting me to start my own restaurant so that my friends will be able to enjoy what I enjoyed back when I was a child.

PS
do not stop stirring the polenta otherwise it will stick and burn

PPS
To serve, it's poured out onto a wooden board or on individual plates

"Essere Nonna" "Being A Grandmother" by Viki

Essere Nonna dicevano tutti " è diverso dall'essere mamma, è di più!"
wauuu! è bellissimo : questo esserino sorridente, con le braccine sempre tese,
con gli occhi sgranati sul mondo, e i pianti , gli urli...
tutto è bello di lei !

La guardi e cerchi tua figlia neonata e torni indietro a quegli anni faticosi,
sempre di corsa, sempre impegnata, ti rendi conto che non te la sei goduta
veramente la maternità perchè dovevi battere su mille fronti. e le nottate:..
Non ne parliamo!!!!

la mattina mi vestivo senza guardarmi, mi sono messa anche scarpe diverse,
vestiti a rovescio...e intanto lei cresceva....
ora c'è la nipotina e lei sì che ma la godo. anche anche ora tanta fatica
perchè vuoi aiutare tua figlia, vedi che ha bisogno di te, ti cerca sempre, ti
chiama.
ritrovi con lei un legame diverso di cui ignoravi l'esistenza, ma intanto ti
spupazzi la bimba, deliziosa principessa, piccola tiranna che già mostra i suoi
pugnetti alla vita
viki



Being a grandmother They all said " it's different than being a mother, it is more! " wauuu! it is beautiful: this smiling little being, with her little arms always stretched out, with her eyes sgranati on the world, and the tears, the screams…
Everything is beautiful about her!

You look at her and you search for your daughter when she was an infant and you go back to those difficult laborious years, always on the run, always with too many engagements, you realize that you really did not enjoy being a mother because you had to wear too many hats. and the sleepless nights...!let's not talk about them!!!

In the morning I dressed without looking at myself, I even wore two different shoes, my dresses inside out...in the meanwhile she grew…. now there's the little granddaughter and yes I do enjoy her, even now with lots of hard work because I want to help my daughter, I see that she needs me, she's always looking for me and she calls.

I find in her a bond which is stronger than I thought could ever exist. In the meanwhile I cuddle the baby girl, the delightful princess, this little tyrant who already approaches life with pluck.
Viki