serves 2
You might need to buy:
  • 100g gorgonzola or stichelton
  • 300g polenta flour
  • 50g butter
  • 300ml milk
  • salt
You might need to buy:
  • olive oil
  • lime juice
  • chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • pepper
  • SAUCE:
  • mayonnaise
  • chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
  • hot pepper sauce
  • cayenne pepper
  • POLENTA:
  • seafood seasoning
You might need to buy:
  • minced parsley
  • olive oil
  • walnut-sized chunk of unsalted butter
  • Salt and pepper to taste.

from cook’s illustrated: Unlike the stovetop method, microwave polenta does not require constant stirring. After testing different grinds of cornmeal, we found the medium-grind varieties, sold as polenta, are best. Makes 3 1/2 cups

ready in about 10 minutes
You might need to buy:
  • water
  • salt

This is my favorite morning cereal. If you already have the toasted mix in your pantry, it cooks up in under 15 minutes. You can substitute steel-cut oats for whole, but don’t use rolled oats. Pearled barley will also work, but it’s not as nutritious as hulled.

ready in about 20 minutes; serves 4
You might need to buy:
  • whole oats
  • polenta
  • amaranth
  • toasted cereal mix
  • hulled barley
  • millet