Polenta and Cornbread Muffins

Being that I have no housemates, I decided to try a couple of new recipes. I'd been fascinated by Polenta, since reading it on Adam Roberts' Amateur Gourmet weblog a while ago. It looked interesting and very versatile. I got a recipe from FoodNetwork.com, and the recipe is as follows.

Polenta
=======

1 cup Polenta (you can also use cornmeal, it's basically the same thing)
4 cups chicken stock (I used the packaged Campbells one, but if you want to go to the trouble of making your own stock, go for your life)
1 large onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into squares
1/2 a cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil

To Do:
======

Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F)

1: Chop onion finely.
2: Sweat onion on high heat in an ovenproof saucepan with the olive oil.
3: Add the garlic and reduce the heat, allow to cook for 2 minutes.
4: Add all the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
5: Add in the polenta while whisking the stock mixture.
6: Once the polenta is mixed in, place the saucepan into the oven for 30-40 minutes and stir every 10 minutes.
7: When the polenta is finished cooking, remove from the oven and stir in the butter, parmesan, salt and pepper until all is combined.
8: Pour the mixture into a 6" x 12" baking paper lined oven tray, and refrigerate to set.
9: Once set, turn out onto a board and cut into slices.

Polenta can be used as a side dish, like a substitute for potato, etc. It can be eaten cold if you wish, fried, or grilled (Brush with a little olive oil to grill)


Recipe #2: Cornmeal Muffins
===========================

This recipe was adapted from Cooks.com.

Ingredients:
============

1 cup cornmeal or polenta
1 cup flour
3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup yoghurt


To Do:
======

Preheat the oven to 230 C or 450 F

1: Into one bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder.
2: Melt the butter.
3: In a separate bowl, combine the egg, milk, yoghurt and melted butter.
4: Add the wet ingredients to the sifted flour/cornmeal mix.
5: Whisk until combined.
6: Pour the batter into a greased and floured muffin pan.
7: Put the tray into the oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn out onto a cooling tray.

Serve warm with butter or with anything you wish.

Halfass Film Review: WTC View

"WTC View" is a film adaptation of a play by Brian Sloan, portraying the experiences of Eric, who places an ad for a roommate on the 10th of September, 2001.

Eric's ad specifies that the apartment has a view of the World Trade Center, which becomes a central plot element. Ground Zero is not actually shown, but rather suggested by the glaring light coming in through the empty room's single window. As Eric shows the room to potential renters, the conversations relate personal experiences of the tragedy, both from people who watched the tragedy unfold on television, to those who were actually there. It follows Eric's experiences in the weeks following, as he struggles to deal with his emotions and fears, and is an engrossing snapshot into the life of just one of the many New Yorkers affected by 9/11.

The movie stars the very talented Michael Urie (Marc St James in Ugly Betty), who can pull off drama as well as he pulls off comedy. Plus he's GORGEOUS... men may not be my type, but dammit if he was straight and there was a chance in hell (HA!), I would so go straight for him.

Fannish gushing aside, though, Michael gives a wonderful performance. He plays the character well, so that there is not much mystery to Eric at all, and I couldn't really picture the film being made with another actor playing the role. (Michael also played Eric in the stage play.) He carries across the fear, grief and anger of the character so well.

The tone of the film is a sombre one, if you're looking for sensationalism, it's by no means in this film. Everything is stripped back to give a very personal quality to the movie, and it works extremely well. But, I don't think it's a depressing movie in any way. While there is some humour in it (which you may need a sense of humour as twisted as mine to see it), it more or less gives a unique view of the aftermath of 9/11, minus the conspiracy theories and media hype. I've watched probably 10-12 different movies/documentaries about it, and each one is different. WTC View seems to me to be the most human of the lot. It's relatively bullshit free, and makes for compelling drama.

I first saw a preview for this movie on Youtube, and ended up having to order the DVD from my local music store. It was well worth it, and I'm glad I did.

Rating: 5 stars, 2 thumbs up and a bucket of onion rings as well.