Dinner: Stacked Polenta and Mushroom Casserole

Ingredients

6 cups chicken stock, plus more if needed
2 1/2 cups coarse polenta
Salt and coarse black pepper
6 tablespoons butter, plus more for dotting casserole
1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (a couple of handfuls)
About 1/3 cup EVOO
1 1/2 pounds cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme
2 shallots, finely chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine or 1/4 cup Marsala or sherry
2 cloves garlic, grated
1/4 cup flour
2 1/2 cups milk
Freshly grated nutmeg, as needed
1 1/2 cups grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Instructions

Heat 5 cups of the chicken stock in a saucepot to a low boil; add the polenta and season with salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook, stirring and adding more stock as needed to keep the mixture loose, until thickened and soft, 40 to 45 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the butter, pour the polenta onto nonstick baking sheets (1 large or 2 small), spread into a 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick even layer and cool totally. Cut into rectangular shapes to easily remove for layering. Cover the dried porcinis with the remaining 1 cup chicken stock and 1/2 cup water in a small pot; bring to a simmer and cook to reconstitute. Remove the tender mushrooms and chop. Reserve the mushrooms and their liquid. Heat the EVOO in a large, deep skillet. Add the fresh mushrooms and cook until dark and tender, about 15 minutes. Add the thyme and shallots, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Deglaze the skillet with the wine. Add the stock and porcinis with some of their liquid (be careful to avoid any grit) and reduce the heat to low. To make the bechamel, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a saucepot, add the garlic and swirl a minute or two. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook until thickened. Add half of the cheese. Place a layer of the polenta in a medium casserole dish and top with half of the mushrooms and bechamel. Repeat the layers, and then end with a layer of polenta. Dot with butter and top with the remaining cheese. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal, or bake to serve. Bake at 375 degrees F from room temperature until brown, bubbling and hot through, about 50 minutes.