Soft polenta sticks are easy for
little hands to grab and chew (they
may have as much fun squishing
them as they do eating them!)
Experiment with different flavour
combinations; making polenta is
like making cream of wheat, and
it’s easy to add grated cheese,
herbs and spices, or even bits of
meat or veggies. Once cooled, it
can easily be cut into sticks or little
bites.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) vegetable cooking
liquid, stock or water
1 cup (250 ml) polenta or yellow cornmeal
1 tbsp (15 ml) butter (optional)
1/2–1 cup (125-250 ml) grated cheese
(optional)
Directions:
1. In a medium saucepan, bring the vegetable
cooking liquid, stock or water
to a simmer and whisk in the polenta or
cornmeal, cooking for 3–4 minutes, until
it thickens. (It will have the consistency of
cooked cream of wheat.)
2.
Remove from the heat and stir in the butter
and/or cheese, if you’re using it. Stir
until smooth and then scrape into an 8×8-
inch or loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap
and refrigerate until cold and firm.
3.
Cut into cubes or sticks to serve.
Makes
about 8 servings.
Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, May/June 2013.
