Cheesy polenta sticks

Made with cornmeal, polenta is as simple to cook as cream-of-wheat –
stir in some butter and grated cheese and chill it, then cut it into
soft sticks your toddler can pick up and eat by himself.

Ingredients:

4 cups (1 L) water, chicken or vegetable stock, or a combination
1 cup (250 ml) cornmeal
A pinch of salt
1/4 cup (60 ml) butter
1 cup (250 ml) grated cheddar, Gouda, or other meltable cheese

Directions:

1.
Bring the water and/or stock to a boil in a medium saucepan. Gradually
add the cornmeal, whisking as you pour it in. Cook until the mixture is
very thick and bubbly.

2. Remove from heat and stir in the salt, butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted.

3.
Pour into a 9”x 13” pan, two 8”x 8” pans or a couple of loaf pans and
refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until firm. Cut into squares or sticks
that little fingers can hold on to.

Makes about 30 sticks.

Per stick:

46
calories, 2.5 g fat (1.6 g saturated, 0.7 g monounsaturated, 0.1 g
polyunsaturated), 7 mg cholesterol, 4.2 g carbohydrate, 1.2 g protein,
0.2 g fibre

Originally published in ParentsCanada, May/June 2012