SWEET ORANGE

Good Morning everyone.  Wow!  I can't tell you how great it is to see so many people responding to my blog.  Hopefully you will be trying these recipes and enjoying some new tastes and flavors.

These are called the waning days of summer and isn't it funny how, even though some of us live in California, our minds and bodies and spirits just know and can feel the changing of the seasons.  The coming of Autunm.  It is just "in the air".  Even though right now this weekend in Mission Viejo, CA will be in the 90's.

I will be bringing you some really wonderful comfort foods for the coming months.  Not to mention sinful Holiday Goodies.

Today, I present to you a creation of mine that will be
perfect to linger over one morning this Holiday week-
end.  I just call it "Sweet Orange".

It has all of my very favorite ingredients.
Warm Polenta, Oranges, Cinnamon Ricotta, Honey and Chocolate.

It is so yummy and so easy you can have it done in less than 20 minutes.
Make the Polenta, I use Polenta Valsugana, it cooks in minutes.  Just follow directions, but add a couple tablespoons of butter.  Zest one orange and set the zest aside.  Peel the orange and cut into thick slices.  Blend some Ricotta with a little cinnamon.

Cook the Polenta as directed, adding the butter and stirring untill fully incorporated.  It will be thick.  Pour out onto a buttered cookie sheet to about 1/4 inch thick.  Let set for about 3 or 4 minutes and cut into the shapes of your choice.  I used a star cookie cutter for this weekend, but you can use squares, rounds or whatever you like.
Put your cut-out on a plate, add the orange slice, top with the Ricotta, top with the orange zest, grate some semi sweet or dark chocolate over the top, drizzle with at least two heaping tablespoons of Honey and top with a sprig of Mint.

Let me just say, this is one of those things that you can have for Breakfast with a couple of slices of bacon, you can have it for Lunch with a Salad, for dessert after Dinner or whenever the mood strikes you.  I hope you will try it soon.  And your children and all the family are sure to love it too.

Now as I sign off for the Holiday weekend, I am going to be eating the very one you are looking at.  As Sophia on the old TV Show "The Golden Girls" used to say, "picture this", so picture this, warm buttery Polenta, sweet juicy orange, cinnamon Ricotta melting in your mouth, the mingling of Chocolate and Orange and the sweet wonderful taste of Honey.  I'm having that right now.  Sinful, Luscious and just plain Wonderful.  Il Dolce Bene!

Have most wonderful weekend and a safe one.  Come back on Tuesday for more!
Ciao for now.
Grayce