Damn Hot Polenta Bread Recipes

ROASTED GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut top from each head of garlic, exposing the cloves. Place heads of garlic (cut side up), on a piece of heavy duty aluminum foil. Pour olive oil over them, and top with thyme springs. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap the foil tightly. Place in a small ovenproof pan, and bake until the cloves begin to pop out, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and cool.
• To remove the cloves, open the foil and squeeze the lower part of the head of garlic. In a small bowl, mash the cloves to form a paste. (At this point the paste can be used or stored in the refrigerator or freezer.)
• Add butter and chopped thyme to the bowl, stirring to combine. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Toast both sides of the bread, using a hot grill, grill pan, or broiler. Spread the roasted garlic butter paste onto the toasted bread. Serve immediately.

DAMN HOT PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a very large pot. Add the peppers, and allow to sweat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add jalapenos, and salt to taste. Cook over medium-high heat for about 20 minutes, or until the peppers have softened and are partially tender. There will still be some liquid left in the pot.
• Add the tomatoes and the basil leaves. Lower the heat and continue to cook for about 30 minutes, until the peppers are tender. Add additional salt, if needed. Remove from the heat.
• If canning, add the vinegar, place in canning jars, and process according to the manufacturer's instructions. Or, store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

BREADED POLENTA CUTLETS

Steps:

• To make herbed bread crumbs:.
• Pulverize stale or lightly toasted whole wheat, sourdough, or French bread in a food processor. Mix in mixed dried herbs. Set aside.
• Bring the salt and water to a boil. Gradually pour in the cornmeal and stir briskly with a whisk until the polenta begins to thicken. Lower the heat and simmer, stirring frquently until the polenta tastes done. The cooking time will vary with different cornmeals. Finely ground cornmeal might be done after just a few minutes of cooking, coarsely ground and stone ground may need to simmer for up to 45 minutes. Add more water, if needed, during cooking, until the cornmeal is no longer crunchy and the polenta is the consistency of thick porridge.
• Meanwhile, saute the onions, garlic, and ground fennel seeds in the olive oil on medium heat for about 7 minutes. Remove the cooked polenta from the heat. Stir in onions and the grated cheese(if using). Add salt to taste.
• Pour the hot polenta onto an oiled baking tray or 10" pie pan to about 3/4" thickness. Spread evenly with a rubber spatula. Chill for at least 30 minutes. The plenta will thicken as it cools.
• Preheat the oven to 375*F. and oil a baking sheet.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until they get foamy and then whisk in the milk. Place the bread crumbs in a separate shallow bowl. With a knife, cut the cooled polenta into squares, rectangles, diamonds, or whatever shape you like. Line up in order the pan of cutlets, egg mixture, bread crumbs and the oiled baking sheet.
• Lift one cutlet at a time with a spatula and dip it inot the egg mixture. Lightly coat the cutlet and gently shake off the excess. Then dip each cutlet in the bowl of bread crumbs and coat well. Arrange the cutlets on the baking sheet about an inch apart.
• Bake for 35 minutes, until golden brown on both sides, turning once after about 20 minutes.
• Variation:.
• To fry the cutlets, heat olive oil about 1/4" deep in a skillet and fry the cutlets for 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve immediately, or keep in a wqrm oven until ready to serve.