Hunter's Style

Today was a good day. I am not sure why becuase I didn't get any good grades back, no classes were cut short, and the guy that I am crushing on did not ask me out. It could be lunch with BM. Or maybe its that and a combination of the first offically documented dish from The Essentials of Mediterranean cooking. Not exactly my first shot, but what the heck, you gotta start somewhere. I am thinking, yes combo!

Tonight, it was Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta. I had never eaten polenta before this dish. It sorta like a cross between porridge and grits, and if you have never had either of those before...its really a fancy word for some cornmeal added to boiling water and cooked until smooth (topped with Italian cheese, of course!) They turned out ok, a little salty, but yummy just the same.

Now for the Chicken Cacciatore. The excerpt from the cook says:

Cacciatore, or 'hunter's style', origianlly referred to the traditional way of preparing venison with wine, wine vinegar, rosemay, and garlic.

I really made it with tomatoes, wine, onions, green bell peppers, and mushrooms. All sauted separately in a pan and served over the polenta. I must say that I was impressed, with the recipe yeah, but also with myself because I can NEVER follow a recipe. I did this time, with the exception of a substitution of Parmesan for Fontina Cheese in the Polenta.

YUM-O!