Braised Beef Brisket and Creamy Polenta

Ingredients

• 1 beef brisket (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cut against the grain into three pieces
• Salt
• pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 large shallots, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 bottle dry red wine (750 ml), divided
• 2 cups beef stock
• 1 package (16 ounces) whole baby portobello mushrooms
• 6 fresh thyme sprigs
• 3 bay leaves
• 6 cups water
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups polenta or cornmeal
• 8 ounces Koepke Family Farms LaBelle cheese, shredded (2 cups)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cubed
• Coarsely ground pepper to taste
• Fresh thyme leaves
• Additional Koepke Family Farms LaBelle cheese, shaved