When you are hosting a winter party, it’s always important to have food for your guests they can easily bite into and can be eaten in one hand because chances are, they have a cocktail in the other. I give you.. Black Bean Chili Polenta Cups! This recipe I found in a fun little small bites cookbook called, Party Bites. 
Order a copy off Amazon today and you’ll have the best hors d’oeuvres to serve your friends! http://www.amazon.com/Party-Bites-Recipes-Fingerfood-publication/dp/1845977092
Click on quick recipe below to enlarge and print. 
You can always make polenta from scratch, but if you plan to make most of your hors d’oeuvres from scratch, safe yourself the extra hour and go out and buy yourself some good quality pre-made polenta. It generally comes in a plastic tube located usually in the deli/produce section of your grocery store. Scoop a mini teaspoon of polenta into each cup of a mini cupcake tray. Shape polenta around the bottom and sides of each cup cake holder. Place in preheated oven (350 degrees) for 30 minutes.
Soak 1 pound of dried black beans over night. Rise, drain and bring to a boil with 2 cups of water (add more if needed)and then simmer for 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Next, chop up 4 shallots, 3 garlic cloves and 2 red chiles. 
Or you can throw these 3 ingredients into a food processor to get a fine chop (easier). 
Add the 3 ingredients to a heated pan with 4 tablespoons of olive oil
Next, add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
Then take the coriander seeds, cumin and sea salt and add to food processor
Then add the heated ingredients from the pan back into the food processor
Blend for 30 seconds until all ingredients are combined
Add chopped cilantro and brown sugar to cooked beans.. approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes after placing them in pot of water.
Place the mixed ingredients into pot of beans after they are completely cooked..
Take your toasty and crispy polenta cups out of the oven 🙂
Scoop the flavorful chili into each polenta cup, top off with a small dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. Your party guests will be talking about this great hors d’oeuvre all winter long! You can even host a classy Super Bowl party with this special hit 🙂
