Lunch: Four Cheese Polenta

Ingredients

3 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups coarse cornmeal (slow-cooking polenta)
3 tablespoons butter, plus more for the baking dish
A handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
A few gratings of fresh nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 ounces diced soft cheese, such as goat cheese or sheep's milk ricotta
4 ounces diced ripe Camembert or Brie
4 ounces diced mild or medium Cheddar, or cow's milk melting cheese
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
A few sprigs of fresh rosemary, for garnish
Chopped tomato or halved cherry or grape tomatoes, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring the chicken stock and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a pot. Reduce the heat to a simmer and gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Cook, stirring, until tender, 30 to 35 minutes (the polenta should still be thin enough to pour). Stir in the butter, parsley, nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Butter a baking dish. Pour in one-quarter of the polenta and top with 1 kind of diced cheese of your choice. Add another quarter of the polenta followed by another diced cheese. Add another layer of polenta and the remaining diced cheese. Top with the remaining polenta and sprinkle with the Parmigiano-Reggiano. Garnish with the rosemary and tomatoes. (If you are not serving immediately, let the casserole cool, then cover and refrigerate. To reheat, bring to room temperature, then bake as directed. It may take an extra 10 to 15 minutes.) Bake the casserole until golden, 20 to 30 minutes. If you have any leftovers, fry the polenta and serve it the next morning with eggs.

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