Creamy Polenta with Bacon and Sage 

Total time: 15 minutes
   Use quick cooking polenta.  Check the package directions for quantity proportion - you may have to add more (or less) liquid to get a soft consistency.  It can be adjusted at the end, before serving.  You can add a bit more milk to thin.  It should be like mashed potatoes - but studded with crisp bacon and fragrant sage!

 Ingredients:

• 1oz (30gr) bacon  1 - 2 slices
• 1 tbs chopped fresh sage   substitute 1 1/2 tsp dried
• 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock
• 1/4 cup (1.5oz, 45gr) polenta, quick-cooking
• 1/4 cup (2oz, 60ml) milk
• 1/4 cup (1oz, 30gr) Parmesan

 Instructions:

• Slice bacon crosswise into 1/4 inch strips. 
• Sauté in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels. 
• Pour off all but 1 tsp fat from pan.  Add sage to pan and sauté briefly. 
• Add stock and bring to a boil. 
• Slowly pour in polenta, whisking constantly - or it will have little volcanic eruptions spewing polenta all over your cook top. 
• Turn heat down and cook about 5 minutes (or whatever your package tells you), stirring constantly. 
• When done, stir in milk, Parmesan and bacon. Serve.