Polenta Pie With Italian Toppings

Ingredients

• 2 cups water 
• 1 cup milk 
• 0.3 cup olive oil for sauteing and drizzling the baking sheet plus a bit more
• 0.5 tsp salt 
• 1 cup cornmeal yellow
• 3 oz pancetta diced
• 1 large shallots finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic 
• 3 oz gorgonzola fresh blue with goat cheese or baby mozzarella crumbled canned ( if you are a fan)
• 0.5 lbs baby spinach 
• 1  bell pepper sweet seeded sliced cut in half, and not too thin
• 1  bell pepper sweet seeded sliced cut in half, and not too thin
• 1 handful pinenuts (pine nuts)

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven
• aluminum foil

Directions

1. Make polenta first. In a saucepan, bring water, milk, 1/4 olive oil and salt to a boil. Reduce heat immediately, and pour in the corn. Stirring very frequently, simmer corn for about 15 minutes, until very thick.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment, and drizzle a bit of olive oil on it.
3. Spread polenta on the sheet evenly, to about 1/2 thickness, and shape into a circle, just like a pizza crust.
4. Let cool until nicely set.
5. Heat the oven to 425F.
6. Sprinkle polenta crust with freshly ground pepper, and bake for 30 minutes, until nicely browned around the edges. Keep the oven on.
7. While crust is baking, prepare the toppings. In a skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil.
8. Saute pancetta, shallots and garlic for about 7-8 minutes, until nicely golden and very fragrant. Dont overcook.
9. Remove the pancetta topping into a bowl and set aside.
10. Heat a bit more oil in the same skillet and saute baby spinach until wilted and dark green, for about 3 minutes or so. Again, remove the spinach and set aside.
11. Add pepper slices and saute for a couple of minutes until they are nicely wilted, for about 3-4 minutes.
12. Layer your toppings atop polenta crust, starting with cheese crumbs, followed by pancetta mix, spinach, peppers, and finally pine nuts. Arrange everything in a pretty way.
13. Drizzle just a few drops more of olive oil, and put back in the oven for 4-5 minutes.
14. Slice like a pizza or cut into 3 inch squares.
15. Serve immediately.