Fried Polenta Cakes

Directions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. 2
   In a 1 to 1 1/2 quart oven-safe container, stir together water, salt, pepper, and polenta
3. 3
   Add butter to the mixture, cut up in chunks.
4. 4
   Place container, uncovered, in center rack of oven and bake 40 minutes.
5. 5
   Open oven, pull out rack, add parmesan, and any other ingredients like sun-dried tomatoes, olives, lemon zest, herbs, shallots, cilantro etc. and let bake another 10 minutes.
6. 6
   Pull out of oven and let rest in refrigerator 20 minutes to over-night.
7. 7
   In frying pan, on medium-high, heat oil.
8. 8
   Spoon about half a cup of polenta into the pan at a time, fry until golden brown on each side.
9. 9
   Let cakes rest about 3-5 minutes and serve.