Bidia

Ingredients

 * 11/4 cups white cornmeal
 * 1 cup milk

Directions

 * 1) Heat a cup of water to boiling in a medium-size saucepan. Meanwhile, in a bowl or measuring cup, gradually add ¾ cup of the cornmeal to the milk, stirring briskly to make a smooth paste. Add the mixture to the boiling water, continuing to stir constantly. Cook for 4 or 5 minutes while adding the remaining cornmeal. When the mixture begins to pull away from the sides of the pot and stick together, remove from heat.
 * 2) Dump bidia into a bowl. Then, with damp hands, shape it into a smooth ball, flipping it so that the rounded sides of the bowl help to smooth it. Serve immediately.
 * 3) To eat in the traditional manner, tear off a small chunk and make an indentation in it with your thumb. Use this hollow as a “bowl” to scoop up sauces and stews.
 * 4) Variations : For a less conventional, but delicious porridge, dump half a cup of yellow cornmeal into a cup or more of boiling water. It will form lumps, but if you stir and mash vigorously with a strong wire whisk, the lumps will disappear. Add more cornmeal as necessary until you have a consistency similar to cream of Wheat. Cook for 3 or 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Serve hot.