Recipe - Gnocchi Di Polenta-Polenta Pie

9 cup Chicken stock
Salt and pepper
3 cup Yellow cornmeal
1 One half ounce Dried mushrooms
9 tablespoon Butter
3 tablespoon Olive oil
3 tablespoon Ham fat
1 cup Finely chopped onions
1 Carrot; finely chopped
1 Celery stalk; finely chopped
One half pound Ground lean pork sausage
meat
One half pound Roma tomatoes; peeled,
seeded and chopped
1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese

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Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Bring the chicken stock up to a boil.
Stir in the cornmeal and cook the polenta for about 20 to 25 minutes over
low heat stirring often. Spread the polenta out onto a parchment lined 1/2
sheet pan. Let the polenta cool completely. Soak the mushrooms in 4 cups
warm water for about 30 minutes. Drain the mushrooms and reserve the
liquid. Squeeze the mushrooms dry and chop. Set the mushrooms aside. In a
large saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil, butter and ham fat. When the
oil is hot, add the vegetables and saute for 2 minutes or until wilted.
Season with salt and pepper. Add the ground sausage and continue to cook
for about 4 to 6 minutes or until browned, stirring constantly. Reduce the
heat to low and stir in the tomatoes and continue to cook for 15 minutes.
Add the mushrooms and reserved mushroom liquid. Season with salt and
pepper. Continue to cook for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat. Cut the
polenta into 3inch rounds. Butter a 8 by 8 by 2inch baking dish. Line the
bottom of the dish with the polenta rounds. Spread a thin layer of the meat
sauce over the polenta. Dot the sauce with a couple of tablespoons of
butter. Sprinkle some of the cheese over the top. Repeat the process until
all the ingredients are used. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about
6 to 8 minutes or until the top is golden and heated through.

Yield: about 6 servings

Posted to recipeludigest by molony molony@scsn.net on Feb 21, 1998