Cheddar Polenta With Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
By: Andie Mitchell
Published: Friday, May 28, 2010 - 12:01pm

Ingredients




For Bacon Wrapped Asparagus:

6 spears of asparagus
2 slices raw bacon
salt

pepper

For Cheddar Polenta:

3/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup coarse corn grits
1/4 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese
salt

pepper

Preparation

1 Preheat the oven to 400°. Wrap 6 thick asparagus spears with two slices of raw bacon. 2 Place on a small baking sheet and spritz the bundle with nonstick cooking spray, just to coat the asparagus lightly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. 3 Roast for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy and the asparagus is tender. 4 Make the cheddar polenta while the asparagus is roasting: Bring chicken broth to a boil in a small saucepan. 5 Stir in polenta.Lower the heat and cook slowly for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mixture has thickened. 6 Stir in the cheese. I used extra sharp cheddar, but any kind would work. Add a dash of salt and pepper, or more to taste. 7 Scoop the polenta in a dish and top with the bacon wrapped asparagus.

About


For a meal that gave McDonald's drive thru a little competition in speediness, it tasted delicious. The polenta was thick and creamy, laced with melting sharp cheddar cheese. And after roasting, the asparagus had absorbed the bacon's smoky and rich flavor. A very happy marriage of flavors.