Polenta With Mascarpone, Rosemary and Walnuts

Not fancy just plain old comfort food that makes a nice vegetarian main dish when served with a baby green salad and a glass of red wine. I use homemade Mascarpone (include in this recipe) or you can buy Mascarpone, but please do *Not use plain cream cheese* This is my version of a recipe from the complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook. The servings on this recipe are good size.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2  teaspoons salt
• 2  cups cornmeal
• 1  cup mascarpone cheese (Recommend easy homemade listed below)
• 1  cup walnuts, chopped
• 3  tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1  tablespoon fresh rosemary, minced

• Homemade Mascarpone

• 10 2⁄3 ounces cream cheese
• 1⁄4 cup sour cream
• 1⁄4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. Pour 8 cups water into a heavy saucepan set over high heat. When the water comes to a boil, add the and lower heat to medium. Whisk in the cornmeal in a slow, steady stream. Make sure to whisk the cornmeal continuously to prevent lumps from forming. This will take about 2 minutes. Contiue whisking as the cornmeal comes back to a boil. Simmer, whisking contstantly, unitl the polenta starts to thicken about 2 minutes.
2. Reduce the heat until the polenta is at very low simmer. Cover the pan and cook very slowly, stirring every 10 minutes or so, for 35 to 40 minutes.
3. Homemade Mascarpone: Blend cream cheese, sour cream and heavy whipping cream together until smooth.
4. While the polenta is cooking, divide the mascarpone among 4 large bowls.
5. Place the walnuts in a skillet set over medium heat. Toast, shaking the pan occasionally, until the nuts are fragrant and lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Transfer them to a small bowl.
6. Add the oil and rosemary to the pan and saute until the rosemary is tender and has infused the oil, about 2 minutes. Stir in the walnuts and cook for 1 to 2 minutes just to coat them with the oil and rosemary. Cover and keep warm until the polenta is ready.
7. Divide the polenta among the bowls cantaining the mascarpone. Spoon a little of the rosemary-walnut sauce over the portion and serve immediately.