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Sarah Copeland's avatar

OOh how I love Irina's work and all her books and I'm on the edge of my seat for this one (it should be in the mail!). I was already a big polenta lover coming into my adulthood (my parents, southern farm kids, served all kinds of grain porridge, both sweet and savory, like grits and mush cereals growing up), but the way I have seen them prepared in Romanian household and through Irina's work is next level comforting. This recipe is a perfect example of Central and Eastern European cooks' genius use of simple ingredients to achieve something much more than the sum of its parts.

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Domenica Marchetti's avatar

Polenta and porridge are still underrated, IMO! When I was growing up, one of my favorite winter breakfasts was cream of wheat cooked in milk and topped with butter and either maple syrup or brown sugar. In Abruzzo, polenta is poured directly onto the tabletop and then ragù with chunks of meat and sausages is ladled on top. Everyone stakes out their territory and digs in! Simple preparations are so often the best preparations.

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Bob Marino's avatar

Hi, Domenica.

Any chance that cașcaval is similar to caciocavallo?

Best, Bob Marino

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Domenica Marchetti's avatar

Hi Bob, I meant to look into this before publishing but I just didn't have time. From the descriptions I've read, the two are similar. I've also seen it spelled differently, with a 'k', and there's a Mediterranean bakery and deli not to far from my home that sells it, though I've never bought it. If I find out more, I'll let you know. With the names being so similar, I have to believe they're related.

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christine calhoun's avatar

Yum, yum! Thanks.

I made the cooking class biscotti but did all almonds

and orange! Delicious. More than half are gone!!

Keep working on that book.

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Domenica Marchetti's avatar

Glad to know the biscotti turned out, Christine. Your adaptation sounds delicious. Slow going with the book but I've got my head (mostly) down, writing writing writing.

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Jolene Handy's avatar

Love polenta! 🌽

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Domenica Marchetti's avatar

One of my favorite comfort foods. I don't know why I don't make it more often!

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Connie Robinson's avatar

A perfect night for your Marsala beef stew!

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