Gnocchi A La Romana

More from Jinx and Judy! I absolutely love Gnocchi in most forms, and it is a family Italian memory type of thing for sure. I was delighted to see a recipe for it in the Saucepans and the Single Girl, under the chapter 'Food fit for a ...' describing different sorts of menus for different sorts of men. Seriously. Here's the quote:

If you have a real man's man on your hands he'll probably turn up his nose at anything as exotic as Gnocchi, in which case he ought to have his nose examined. But if such is the case, fix baked potatoes according to the directions in your big fat cookbook. And hide your sour cream - he doesn't deserve it.

Love that one. Better yet don't invite him in the first place, eh? I have never before seen a Gnocchi recipe with hominy grits!

Gnocchi A La Romana
2 cups milk
1/4 cup plus 1/4 cup butter (get our your defibrillator -AA)
1/2 cup hominy grits (not quick-cooking variety)
1/2 tsp. salt
Pinch pepper
1/2 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Brink milk to a boil.  Add 1/4 cup butter cut in pieces to melt.  Gradually stir in hominy grits.  Continue stirring and cooking until mixture looks like cooked mush. Remove from heat, season, and beat hard with mixer until creamy.  Pour into square pan to set. Cut into rectangular pieces. Place in serving dish like fallen dominoes. Pour 1/4 cup melted butter over and sprinkle cheeses on top.  Heat in 400F oven for 30 - 35 minutes. Serves 2.

The Gnocchi I know are delicate little things like ravioli, not squares like brownies. I'll bet this tastes good, but it isn't A La Anything.

I'm moderating two panels today - one on Romance varieties and the other on e-Books. I have enjoyed reading up on new creatures popular in fiction, from mermaids to faeries to angels. Some books even combine these, like a paranormal Justice League of sorts. It will be interesting to hear what creatures other libraries think are the next big thing.