Breakfast Polenta: Two Ways
Dear Future Husband,
I got your email yesterday… the one with the subject line “To My Future Wife”.
Um….. can I be honest? That was sweet… but a little creeptown.
I know… I know… you’re probably going to say it was all a joke and you were just kidding and blah blah blah.
Listen. You may get the impression from this blog that it’s all sunshine and lollipops here at my end of the world.
Here’s some things you should know:
Sometimes I run out of toothpaste and forget to buy more. Irresponsible. I’m sorry.
I only have 168 Facebook friends. That’s not a lot.
I adopt stray cats… even the ones with dirty, matted fur. And I love them. And I talk to them in my cat voice.
I have a voice I use specifically for cats.
I put my feet on the coffee table. I’m demanding and unreasonable when I get stressed out. I text too much. I don’t want a pet bird. I don’t want to pretend that I like your mother’s pet bird. Oh.. and I’ll lose my everloving mind if you get pee on the floor and don’t clean it up. I will.
So… yea. I understand if you want to retract that email now. If you don’t, you’re nutso.
I made breakfast polenta this morning. Since I couldn’t decide if I wanted it sweet or savory, I made it both ways.
Then I ate both bowls.
Then I realized that I wanted savory breakfast polenta… but the sweet polenta was a lovely warm up.
Polenta… if you don’t know… is ground cornmeal. When boiled with water, milk and butter, cornmeal cooks up into a creamy, warm, super comforting bowl of good.
Sweet Breakfast Polenta
Makes two large or four small servings
3 cups water
1 cup yellow polenta
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup milk
1/2 ripe pear, sliced thin
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped pecans
small handful dried cranberries
1-2 tablespoons honey
milk
add cinnamon and nutmeg if you’re feeling spicy
Check the directions on your particular box of polenta, as the coarseness, ratios and cooking times may vary. This was my experience.
Bring water to a boil. Add salt and turn burner down to a simmer. Add dried polenta in a stream, whisking constantly so no lumps form. Polenta will begin to thicken immediately. Whisk occasionally for about 6 to 8 minutes. Add butter and milk to the polenta and whisk over flame until your desired consistency is reached.
Top polenta with pear slices, nuts, cranberries, honey and as much milk as you like. Delicious!
Savory Breakfast Polenta
Makes two large or four small servings
3 cups water
1 cup yellow polenta
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
3 slices bacon, cooked crisp
1/4 cup diced onions
1 small garlic clove, finely diced
3 tablespoons grated cheese
2 to 4 large egg, fried, depending on how many people you want to feed
Check the directions on your particular box of polenta, as the coarseness, ratios and cooking times may vary. This was my experience.
Bring water to a boil. Add salt and turn burner down to a simmer. Add dried polenta in a stream, whisking constantly so no lumps form. Polenta will begin to thicken immediately. Whisk occasionally for about 6 to 8 minutes. Add butter and milk to the polenta and whisk over flame until your desired consistency is reached.
In a medium skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove cooked bacon and place on a paper towel to drain. Cut into large bits when cool enough to handle. Cook the diced onion in the bacon fat until browned and soft. Add the diced garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Remove onions and garlic and place in a small bowl. In the same skillet over medium heat, fry the egg. Fry is easy or hard… however you fancy your eggs.
Place polenta in a bowl and top with cheese, onions, bacon and the fried egg. Hot sauce and black pepper are highly recommended.
178 Comments Add A Comment
Hmmmmm, well I have three boys (four if you count my hubby) so the pee on the floor thing, sorta sore subject around here……Anyway, my hubby could eat two things every meal for the rest of his life: Mexican food and polenta. So I can only imagine what will be in store for me if I tell him I found a breakfast polenta recipe. Perhaps that diamond I’ve been waiting for for 15 years. The diamond our dirt poor selves couldn’t afford when we got hitched. Let you know if the polenta works…….
So I am all over that savory version this weekend..
lovely!
I have a cat voice, and I also have different voices that I do for when my cats are responding to me. Like this:
Me: Harrison, what are you up to?
Harrison (Me speaking for him in a pimp voice): Just chillin’, yo. Just chillin’
I thought I was the only one who did this!!!! I also use my different cat voices for my 2 cat so they can speak to each other.
I LOVE you guys :D
My husband and I do the same thing for Saru-chan (cat) and Victor (dog). Of course, Victor only talks about food and sniffing Saru-chan’s butt. Silly dog.
Joy, I love everything about this post. I will definatley try and make both of these this weekend. Your pictures make me oh so hungry.
I also would like to write a letter to my current husband as you’ve inspired me to do
I love how he talks in his cat voice to our cats.
If you ever grow a mustache, I will divorce you.
Can we get another cat?
Thank you for eating all my treats so my thighs so get any bigger.
Not in this house.
You will start to like brown rice. You won’t die if you eat it.
Can we get another cat?
Hotel california reminds me of our wedding and it makes me smile
Your going to eat this polenta I make, and love it.
Can we get another cat?
Happy Friday all!
Love love love polenta! I’ve never gone the sweet route, but I do adore pears so that sounds kind of amazing. Does your future husband love polenta? My husband does not, which is just fine since it leaves more for me! I suggest that people who do not like the same foods should marry because then you never fight over who gets the drumstick!
Katie, this is a very good plan!
Sometimes I wonder if I wrote a letter like this to my husband, would he have run away screaming?
I guess we’ll never know. And I’ll be dealing with pee on the floor and he’ll be dealing with my non-toothpaste breath till death do we part.
At least we can enjoy some polenta at breakfast together along the way.
Have a great weekend!
I have a kitty voice also and I have recently realized i have a voice for inside kitties and a voice for my outside kitties. It is totally correct to speak to them differently.
Joy this post made me so happy! I even made a post on my blog about it.
And this looks like what I will be having for breakfast tomorrow! :)
Thanks for all the great recipes, and all the laughs.
I made the Savory version this morning, and my husband ate his in record time. He then demanded that I make a triple batch next time!
Delicious! Thanks Joy!
I have never had polenta! This is a problem that must be remedied stat. By the way, lovely introducation :)
Oh Joy of Joys!
Brekky polenta two ways? That is more than I could have hoped for.
Not sure I can adequately express how much I love polenta.
Ok, I can try, Northern Italian family and genes perhaps, they sell it cooked, sealed and ready to slice in the supermarket, white or yellow too. But not so fast, they don’t eat it for breakfast as I love to do. It’s more substantial than toast but way less heavy than muesli or porridge.
Thank you, imperfect-but-pretty-fab-nonetheless-cat-loving-cook-extraordinaire.
love ya! (in a non creepy way)
from a cat adoring sista
I have to try this- I’ve never had polenta before- EVER.
Does any type of cornmeal = polenta? Or is it a specific texture? I have finely ground and coarsely ground in my cupboard….which would I want to use?
P.S.: Writing cuteness like that is why someone would want to be your husband :) Have you seen this? It’s also pretty cute! http://tomywife.tumblr.com/
Again, I’m off to the supermarket for the ingredients to make this stuff that I never cared about before. Witchy I tell ya! Oh and I not only have a special voice I use to talk to my beagle, I give him an old Englishman’s voice to answer me, as in “oh bloody hell, no tea and crumpets for me?” I dunno, it just works with those sad eyes.
Where I come from we call this grits – just good old grits. I find my Northern friends like to gussy this up and call it polenta. Anyway, I digress – however it is described as Alton Brown would say “It’s Good Eats!”. Your savory recipe is our traditional Sunday breakfast – except I poach the egg. Better watch out, because it will not only get you a husband but also keep one for at least 36 years! Happy cooking!
Bacon, eggs, and cheese I know I love. I’ll be new to polenta….but I can’t wait to try it! Thank you for so much food inspiration!
I totally did this for our Christmas guests!!!
http://thegdkitchen.blogspot.com/2010/04/breakfast-polenta-bar.html
It was a huge hit!
And I like your idea of pears in the sweet one….we did mixed berries :)
As always, love your blog :)
yum! I’ve never made fresh polenta, always that tube of prepared stuff from TJ’s. It just may be time to try it out myself though!
you’re my favorite blogger.
period.
love this post!
I have always wondered how to use polenta the correct and healthy way. These look so good, a must try.
Joy,
I recently had some breakfast polenta that changed my life:
Polenta
Honey
Gorgonzola
Bacon
Poached Eggs
I died.
Hi Joy!
Just wanted to say that I’m pretty new to your blog, and I (as so many) love it!
I have 27 Facebook friends, oh dear… What does that tell you about me…?
Oh well, at least that gives me enough time to try out all your lovely recipes!
Thank you for sharing!
Sarah
Wow that looks delicious! The savory one especially.
Hi Joy! I just found your blog via the voting going on at Apt. Therapy’s Kitchen. I have to say, I am not a great cook. I am intimidated by cooking blogs with amazing food photography. And I don’t usually bookmark many blogs about food (see reason 1 and 2). But yours is going on the top of the list. Not because of the wonderful recipes that look so yummy, or the beautiful pictures of food. I am sticking around purely because you crack me up. I love your newest post and your “about” page. You make me laugh, so I will be back. Probably just to gawk at your pictures and dream about trying out new recipes, but honestly…it’s because I love your sense of humor and you make me laugh. Have a great weekend!
So this is one of the wierdest blogs I’ve ever read but I love it! Can’t decide if you’re on drugs or if I’m on drugs. I kid!!! I love the polenta either way!
I don’t think I can try the sweet polenta recipe…I grow up eating polenta with tons of sugo and cheese and I can not imagine it sweet…just like the rice, I eat it sweet only fried, the “frittelle di riso” that my father makes are wonderful…otherwise rice is just for salads or risotto…
Maybe one day…
I have a voice for everything! I invent words, I have my special Mikitionary and I love to read that you makes voices too…great…I just need a cat now…
Yum – I have some polenta in the cupboard but haven’t used it — I do LOVE my Callaway Gardens Speckle Heart grits — either served with butter and salt – or a little cheddar cheese and a hint of garlic. Your recipes look delish — will have to try! True – there are some weirdos out there — I’m doing my part of the job by taking two of them. Yeah, someone’s gotta do it….
I have a cat voice too. I just realized how weird that actually is……. I don’t care though :)
Gorgeous pictures and the polenta looks fab! I’ve never had sweet polenta before, I may have to change this….
I just made the most amazing polenta with my sister the other night and it converted me for life! It’s amazing… when made well.
You are awesome!! This is hilarious! Plus now since I’ve never tried polenta… I think I should.
I also have a voice reserved just for my cat.
I love your breakfast, full of colors, the tablecloth is outstanding.
I’ve always been intrigued by polenta and always wanted to try it, but never managed to pluck up the enthusiasm and energy to actually go about buying and making it.
I read this post yesterday morning. Bought some polenta yesterday afternoon.
Just one more step to go and I know what recipe I’ll be using!
Thanks for giving me some initiative :D
Dear Joy- I think that you are pretty easy going. I would share my house, husband and child with you, but we have two dogs and I am allergic to cats. Maybe you could just come over to play…but you have to bring a big ol’ pot of that polenta. So lovely!
Your future husband is one lucky fellow.
I agree about the pee.
Hugs and Kisses and Butter,
Nicole
Thank you for these recipes. I adore Polenta. It is my absolute favorite food. I sometimes wait to make it when no one is around so I can eat an entire batch by myself. I also like to make extra so I have ‘leftovers’ so I can then let it cool into a polenta loaf and find even more ways to eat it.
It’s 3:30 am LA time & I just got home from a bar. My bf is sleeping next to me but for some reason I can’t seem to join him in his sweet slumber…. so what do I do? I open my lappy & go directly to your website. I’m SO happy my stomach, fingers, brain whatever opted for this. Your post (not to mention the food porn tormenting my wineful self) was exxxxxxxactly what I needed (:
Thanks Joy – You rule!
Joy, your posts are always entertaining – love your letter from ‘Future Husband’ – hope he adheres to your must have’s : )
The breakfast polenta looks tasty!
Thank goodness I had all of the savory ingredients on hand for Sunday breakfast. Now that is what I call breakfast. Though, yeah, they’re just grits where I come from.
um. yum.
and Miss Joy, I haven’t seen that you shared the news you’re up for a Homie (woot woot!) from the kids at kitchn. Did you mention it and I missed it? I think you should share the good news so we can all vote for you thus spreading the gospel of Joy a bit further! (The other blogs are splashing it on their sites so…..)
http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/the-homies-best-home-cooking-blog-of-2011-submit-your-nominations-137088
And to the happy readers here: you know you all have the love for our girl! Show your support and appreciation.
xo
you’re sweet! i did see that i got nominated for a Homie. i don’t want to make a big deal out of it… it’s an honor just to be nominated!
made the savory version this morning and the sweet version yesterday(with apples, cinnamon and honey)-never had it before yet it’s wonderful. Made my husband proud!Those were his exact words:) Great recipe, thank you!
Found your blog in a search for an avocado chocolate cake recipe. SUCCESS! Found it and now frequently distract myself with your blog. Love love love your ECHINO tablecloth and Heather Ross napkins almost as much as your recipes!! Thanks for the inspiration….
I get really annoyed when my sister uses her cat voice (for HER cats) to speak to my cats. It’s a completely different dialect and confusing for all.
“lose my everloving mind….” ha! try living with three boys who are aim challenged! love the ‘cat voice’ – i have one of those too! there’s a little restaurant up the street from me, starling cafe. they serve a yummy breakfast polenta and i was so surprised the first time i saw it. who knew? of course i ordered it. delish! haven’t made it though but i’m newly inspired by your recipes. thanks joy!
They both look so delicious — how could you be expected to choose? You couldn’t. You had to eat them both, obviously! :)
I have never had polenta, and didn’t even know it could be a breakfast thing. Foodie fail, for sure. Imagining I like polenta, both versions sound amazing, even if I nix the bacon (sob).
Cats are great listeners.
I grew up enjoying this but we called is corn meal mush :)
Wait a minute! doesn’t everyone have a cat voice? In both of my marriages, I had to be the one who spoke to the cats. Neither husband had linguistic skills.
And ah, polenta. The husband du jour, who I DO love, has gone away for a week so yes, all the polenta I’m making will be mine. It is anytime usually but if I make a good hearty Italian-ish stew, he doesn’t get the stew without the polenta. He pushes it around like an 8 yr old, but in the end he eats it. He knows who the source of all food in this house is! Polenta Sat am, with lefover roast chicken bits, cauli, onions and grape tomatoes – all nice and stewy now. Grated parmesan on top, and if it snows, an egg also. Oh yummmm.
Now THAT is what I call a breakfast!! I’m gonna try this on Saturday!!
How do you think turkey bacon would fare in this recipe?
super delicious!
You had me at “savory” oh my!
Dr Mr Creepy guy jajajajajaja I actually had that from I client ( I work at HP Mexico) and he is in the States, he confused me responding his emails ( work) promptly with flirtation …. psychooooo …
Anyways… I pretty much believe he´ll marry you … your cooking is amazing… if not… marry my brother :) I´ll get to have some desserts at family reunions :P
from mexico …
I know I’m a little late on this, but I just made these this morning, sweet for my hubby and savory for me. Perfect breakfast!!! YUM!
I love the content of this blog post, very funny and adorable and there is also yummy breakfast!
My mum and I love finding new ways to use polenta so for Mother’s Day I made her this sweet polenta. So insanely good Joy, thank you! I substituted the cranberries for blueberries, added some pieces of fig, sultanas and maybe a few chocolate chip pieces into the warm polenta..shhh. Thanks again.