Originally Posted by jlm5419
My son fixed it once and it had the consistency close to soft mashed potatoes. It wasn't sweet, but savory. It was delicious.
He must have seasoned it somehow to make it savory and then served it hot while it was still a soft consistency. Then it is called polenta and is an Italian dish, made/served with cheese, tomato sauce, any number of ways but I don't think it is ever served sweet.
When corn meal is boiled with water and salt, it is called corn meal mush. If it is then eaten hot, it is considered a cereal and is served like oatmeal or cream of wheat or however you eat your hot cooked cereal, perhaps with milk and butter, but always with something sweet like brown sugar, syrup, etc.
When it is poured into a loaf pan and chilled until firm throughout, it is still mush, but is sliced and fried crisp and served with a sweet syrup.
It's also very delicious!