Garlic and Parmesan Polenta....DELISH!!!!

I never realized just how easy polenta was to make. It's always on sophisticated menus at really nice restaurants. Ya don't ever see Polenta on the menu at Chili's. But it is actually super easy to make, and so scrumptious, I had to share!!!

Garlic and Parmesan Polenta

2 to 4 tbsp butter

2 to 4 cloves of garlic minced (just depends on how much you love garlic)

2 1/4 cups of water

15 oz's of chicken broth (I like to make it from granules but you can used canned too)

1 cup yellow corn meal

3 ounces of cream cheese (I used 1/3 less fat)

about 1/4 cup of parmesan

salt and pepper to taste.

This you will cook all in one pan, so make sure it's big enough to hold all your ingredients. Saute the minced garlic in the butter. Don't brown it, just saute for about a minute or two. Then add your water and chicken broth. When it starts to boil, gradually add the cornmeal and whisk. I would add just about 1/4 or an 1/8 cup and whisk, then add a little more. You don't want it to get lumpy. Keep whisking about every five minutes or so until it gets to be thick...like really creamy potatoes. Once you like the consistency (you don't want it to be runny on your plate, you want it to hold it's shape off of a spoon a little and it will do that better once it's removed from the heat). Then add your cream cheese, parmesan, whisking until blended well. Add salt and pepper if desired although mine didn't need it at all. You could also experiment adding parsley or whatever other seasonings you like. This dish would be fantastic with sauteed, chopped shrimp as well.

I hope you like it!!! I don't see how you couldn't!!!!