Microwave Polenta

Winter of 2014 has been one for the records.  Brutal cold, piles of snow, thick ice.  We need easy comfort food here in the Northwoods.  So tonight I made polenta, aka corn meal mush.   EASY polenta. Not the kind that has you standing at the stove stirring until your arm falls off.  Start warming up!

MICROWAVE POLENTA
4 cups water
1 1/4 cups corn meal
2t. kosher salt
3 T. butter
Pepper

In a 2 qt microwave safe bowl, stir the water, corn meal and salt.  Microwave on full power for 12 minutes, stirring well at the 6 minute mark.  When it's done, add the butter & pepper and stir.  You can eat it right away, or spoon it into a loaf pan, let it cool, slice it, let it dry a bit, then fry in butter or olive oil.

We like it mushy, right away, covered with a bit of marinara and parmesan cheese.
It would be great with any savory topping - chili, pesto, cheese alone, salsa, etc
It's also great fried as slices, then covered with maple syrup.  mmmmmmmmmmmmm