Chili in a Polenta Crown

Basically polenta is a cornmeal mush, seasoned and shaped.

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 small can diced green chiles
• 1 1/2 cups sharp cheese, grated
• 1 recipe favorite chili

Instructions

1. Place about 3 cups milk in heavy saucepan. Add sugar and salt and heat to a boil. DO NOT scorch milk and be careful not to boil milk over. Stir cornmeal into remaining 1 cup milk. When milk in pan is to a boil, stir cornmeal in. Stir and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and simmer for 10 minutes - stir frequently to avoid scorching.
2. Remove from heat, stir in 1 cup grated cheese and chiles. Place polenta in casserole dish pressing mixture up the sides of dish to form a crown. If polenta is too soft to stay on sides of dish allow it to cool further, as polenta cools it will stiffen up.
3. Prepare favorite chili recipe or use the recipe below. Place chili in polenta crown. Cover and heat until chili is hot and bubbly (about 30-45 minutes at 350 degrees F or about 15 minutes on HIGH in microwave).
4. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cheese and garnish as desired (olives, peppers, chopped fresh tomatoes, etc.).