What I Have Eaten - the week in review

Bottom of the Fridge-tastic

Nothing like feeling hungry and also very, very apathetic. Can't be arsed walking all the way to Thorndon New World (it is a fair walk from mine, you know). And sometimes, it's not like the fridge is really empty, it's just - uninspiring. Full of limp-ish vegetables and the ends of salamis. Hence, the polenta this week - which would have been fab if my hand hadn't slipped while I was adding "just a dab" of chilli powder (no shaker on top of bottle, huge mound of chilli falls in saucepan). Tomato-saucy vege-meaty overly-chilli topping aside, the polenta itself turned out DELISH...

The recipe was in one of Andy's recipe books once. I can't remember how it was actually supposed to be made, but mine always turns out delicious. So...

Cheesy-Garlicky-Polenta Deliciousness

Crush ten or twelve cloves of garlic in a mortar or pestle.

Using directions for water-polenta ratio from polenta-packet, put the correct amount of water into a heavy-bottomed pan. Add crushed garlic and a good teaspoon of salt (or two). Bring the water to the boil, and then add polenta, stirring all the time until desired thickness is reached.

Add big handfuls of cheese - I'm not super rich, so I usually add half-n-half tasty cheese and parmesan. Add LOTS of butter. Stir in the dairy goodness.

Oil a shallow pan - I've been using Pyrex lasagne dishes. Press the polenta into the pan and allow to set. Cut into squares or triangles or whatever.

Just before serving, heat oil in a saucepan and fry the polenta so that it's delicious and crispy and brown on both sides.

Serve to flatmates - receive acclaim and many appreciative noises.