Creamy Polenta with Mushroom Ragù

This is one of my favorite times of year to cook. You can guiltlessly cook hearty, stick-to-your-ribs meals full of robust flavors. It's something about the crisp air that just makes it okay.

Tonight we're having one of those stick-to-your-ribs kinds of meals - creamy polenta with mushroom ragù.

The polenta cooks for hours and gets so thick and creamy it is like eating velvet. And the mushrooms add another rich layer of flavor with a hint of truffle oil drizzled at the end.

For the polenta:

3 cups milk

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup polenta, or course ground cornmeal

1 Tbsp. butter, unsalted

2 Tbsp. freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano

In a heavy-bottomed pan, combine the milk and cream. Heat until it is just bubbling. Add the salt and whisk in the polenta, then bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook the polenta for about 2 hours, stirring every 5 minutes. Just before serving stir in the butter and the cheese.

For the mushroom ragù:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 shallots thinly sliced

2 cups of mushrooms (I prefer a wild mix) roughly chopped

1/2 cup reduced stock, either veggie or chicken (I use 1/2 cup water with 1 bouillon cube dissolved because they don't sell pre-made stock in stores)

Truffle oil to drizzle

In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until the shallots begin to turn colors. Add the mushrooms and cook until the liquid has released. Add the stock, reduce the heat and simmer until liquid has reduced by half.

To serve, spoon the polenta onto a plate, top with the mushroom ragù, then drizzle with a few drops of truffle oil.

Tonight I served the polenta with roasted Brussels spouts. Heat the oven to 400F (200C), trim the sprouts, coat in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast them for about 40 min. They will be crispy on the outside and soft in the inside, and, I can actually tolerate eating them this way.

Buon appetito!

Lately

Since our trip to Venice we have been going non-stop. We found out that Great Gran wasn't doing well on our way home and had to make a last minute trip to Auburn. We hated having to go home for a family emergency, but the time with friends and family couldn't have come at a better time.

We flew overnight back to Rome and I went straight to work on Monday, that Wednesday we flew to Lisbon, Portugal. I had to attend a conference and teach a workshop, but still found plenty of time to explore. We got back the Sunday before Thanksgiving and I think we are all caught up and back on schedule.

We had to leave Libby in Rome the whole time we were travelling. Thankfully one of my good friends agreed to move in to our apartment while we were gone. Libby is amazing and such a blessing. My job has been extremely stressful the past few months and having a sweet little puppy to remind me not to take life so seriously has been a life saver.

Now, back to Lisbon. This should immediately be moved to the very top of your list of places to go. Lisbon is a modern city steeped in rich culture and history. It is cheap, the food is delicious, and the people are so nice. And, not to mention, the language is beautiful. What isn't to love?

Here are a few pictures, though they don't do the city justice.

Bacalhua à Brás at a little hole in the wall in the Barrio Alto. €24 for way more food than we could ever eat!

Pasteis de Belém - addictive Portuguese pastry made with cream and eggs, topped with cinnamon and powdered sugar. Yum, yum, yum!!!

Venezia

We spent a long weekend in Venice. Woke up at 3am on Saturday and caught a 6:30am Easy Jet flight to Venice. The weekend was non-stop walking, eating, drinking wine, and eating - did I mention that we ate a lot?

Yes, Venice is touristy. Yes, Venice is expensive. But, Venice is also incredibly beautiful. There really is no other city like it. Don't forget to make dinner reservations - you won't get in anywhere without them. And pick up a map when you arrive so you can get off the beaten path and "get lost" in one of the most unique cities in the world.

Where we stayed:

Fujiyama Bed & Breakfast

A few places worth trying:

Vecio Fritolin - delicious Venetian classics with an updated twist.

Da Romano - On the island of Burano, this is a must. Try the goh risotto and you will not be disappointed.

You also must stop at one of the many bàcaro, traditional wine bars, for cicchetto and ombra, Venetian tapas and a small (usually only €1) glass of wine.

A New Addition

Welcome to our family little miss Liberty Belle! Libby is un bassotto nano pelo duro, that's a miniature wire-haired dachshund, and we LOVE her.

One year in Rome

A year ago today I stepped on a plane and started a new life in Rome. We've grown to love this city and this country, and each day it gets a little easier being so far away from family and friends.

On that note I'll leave you with a few photos from this past year.

And it wouldn't be complete without

the classic cat picture.

The Language Barrier...Update

It's been a little over a week a week that I decided I was going to learn Italian for real. I made the goal of studying 30 minutes a day during the week and then longer on the weekends. Well, needless to say, I'm still on the Primi Contatti section of my Italian textbook. But, every day I think about learning Italian, so that has to count for something, right?

Okay, so even though I haven't made the best effort at sticking to a daily study schedule, I did join a yoga center in Trastevere. But what, might you ask, does this have to do with learning Italian? Well, the classes are only taught in Italian. I had my first class last night, I was a little nervous going in. But after an hour and half I was communicating pretty well with the instructor, Alessandro, and the other student, Valentina. Plus, I've learned loads of words so far, mainly body parts, and a few useful yoga phrases.

And now for a funny observation. Any one that knows me knows that I always am getting my lefts and rights confused. It is sad, I know, but it's just the way I am. I was thinking maybe this would be true only in English, but no. I also get my lefts (sinistra) and rights (destra) mixed up in Italian. Alessandro would say "gamba destra" and I'd stick out my left leg. Then he would chuckle and say "no, l'altra gamba!" Mamma mia...maybe one day I'll get it figured out.

I'm really looking forward to my next class Thursday night.

Ciao a tutti.

Forno al Ghetto

This little, unmarked corner store holds the key to happiness - my beloved Forno al Ghetto. This is where you can get an unbelievably delicious torta di ricotta e ciocolata made by 3 old Jewish-Italian ladies. They serve it with attitude and they get angry when they have to cut up a pie in less than a quarter, but it is worth it.

They have lots of other slightly burnt baked goods, like a macaroons, hand-held fruitcake type breads, and cinnamon-almond biscotti.

My favorite day to go is on Sundays. Because it is in the Jewish area of town it is closed on Saturdays. They sell out fast, so go early.

When in Rome, this is a must.