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yummy polenta recipe
Posted by Alicia Silverstone on Nov 6, 2009

 

The guys at Aqua on the Water in Connecticut were so nice and gave me the recipe to the polenta that they prepared for me! I wanted to share it with you all, because it was yummy and polenta recipes can be tricky. I was very happy with this one.

I haven’t made it at home yet, but as soon as I am home for a minute I plan to. I hope you enjoy, and I would love to see pictures and hear how your polenta turns out!

INGREDIENTS
2 cups water
3/4 cup of polenta
3 tablespoons of marinara or 1 small fresh tomato diced
1 teaspoon diced shallot (peeled)
1/2 teaspoon diced garlic
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small leek diced and washed
1/2 small turnip diced & roasted until soft, diced & tossed with extra
virgin olive oil, roasted or steamed until soft
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
Pinch of sage
Pinch of basil
Pinch of thyme
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of brown sugar (although they use brown sugar, you can use maple or brown rice syrup instead)
Salt & pepper to taste

STEPS
In a medium saucepan, heat 3 tablespoons of virgin olive oil.
Add shallots, garlic & leeks and turnip.
Cook for a couple of minutes.
Stirring frequently, add water and seasonings.
Slowly stir in polenta, cooking on medium heat (about 5 minutes) until desired consistency is reached.
If you like it thinner, add a little more water
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

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  • Categories: food , travel , recipes , connecticut
Oh honey, thanks so much, but you EMBODIED the word and not only addressed the unkindness, but offered yourself as help and model - outstanding.  I so hope Donna sees this can truly be a whole different experience for her! :)
I do not eat meat, dairy or sugar.  I bought the book to have different recipes to try.  I say it like it is for me and the last time I looked, we did have free speech in this country.  I should have known that most people only see things with blinders and bash anyone who doesn't agree.  Your right, I don't belong here with people who instead of ignoring, would rather march to their own music and show it off for others. 
I still think people should at least make all the recipes before putting it out there.  By the responses I've received, you have not made any of the recipes either. 
I must say some of these things we are eating or are suggested to eat, wouldn't you gain weight from, the deserts etc.. I am a sweets fan,what are some suggestions for on the go moms!?
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  • Kris
  • Nov 15, 2009
  • 33
I live in Connecticut and It's Only Natural is a place you must visit if you ever come back.  Thanks for all you do.  I've been a vegan for almost 4 years and I even went through my last pregnancy (3rd) eating this way.  Thankfully my doctor had no problem with diet and my child was and is very healthy.  I cook veggie at home and my kids are all healthy and don't really get sick at all, runny nose here and there but that's it!  I do feel it has to do with the food I feed them. 
I have made at least at least 6 or 7 recipes from Alicia's book and loved them all. Many of them I have already made several times. The Morracan Cous Cous and Barley Casserole are on heavy rotation in my house. Of the desserts i have only made the rice crispy treats, but I've made them twice now and they were delicious both times, although the second time I made them they were way better, I had used a different peanut butter brand and different chocolate chips..

I made this Polenta the other night and thought it was good, but not great. I think next time I would use different veggies - maybe tomato and black bean? Maybe spicier? I had never made polenta before and was surprised how easy and fast it was. I probably wouldn't make this recipe again, but it gave me a lot of ideas about how to prepare polenta in the future. I think if you have some polenta in the pantry you can always whip some up with leftover veggies and some pasta sauce and you're good to go.

Love the recipe blog, Alicia, keep them coming! I always check in when I need a new idea for dinner!
I made this tonight for me and my flatmates. I added some extra tomatoes to the polenta and served it with char-grilled veges (zucchini, eggplant, pumpkin, mushrooms) on top. We all loved it :-) I'd definitely make it again. 

If you have some left over polenta that isn't enough to prepare by itself, I have a recipe for polenta-crusted tofu with balsamic caper pan sauce that I adapted from Gourmet. The recipe is good, but if could really use the input of some more palates...if you try it, let me know what you think!

You can find it at http://theveganhomechef.blogspot.com , a blog I just started for people who are interested in vegan cooking.

Yes, I too believe there should only be kindness that surrounds this online space. I do not think it right to challenge Alicia's credibility because she is such a warm, giving, and truly KIND person that she nor anyone else, deserves this.

Please give this book a chance, and let your heart lighten.

You won't regret it! p.s. I ADORE YOU ALICIA! I believe in you :D

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boston & connecticut
Posted by Alicia Silverstone on Nov 5, 2009


Hey there.  My talk at the Boston Book Festival went really well and I met some really nice people. Laura from www.pansymaiden.com gave me a really great purse.  It's called The Weekender in the grey color and its great!  The best part is that it's made with organic cotton and earth friendly dye.  Yay!!

I ate at Grasshopper; if you love Chinese food, you will love this place…I’m just not that into Chinese food.  My husband loved that place when he was making his album years ago.  The girl I brought with me liked it a lot too, and she's a meat eater.  It was good, but I left very thirsty and heavily salted.  

Have any of you noticed the fish tank in there?  I would like to start a campaign to free the fish that they hold prisoner in their restaurant.  It's so sad!  Maybe we can encourage them to not pack anymore poor fish into the already overpopulated tank.  Let these little guys live their lives and then retire the tank.  Grow succulents out of it!  Put old Barbies in it!  Just not creatures who need space to swim.  Free the fishies!

 

I had a great raw feast from Grezzo.  So many tasty things!  I had the House Salad, the Jalapeno Green Olive Cheese, the Miso Cashew Cheese, the Brownie Sundae, Mousse Cookie, the Pumpkin Pie Ice Cream and the Salmon.  I pretty much went back and forth between cheese and dessert.  Yum!  All of the cheese was really good and so was the Brownie Sundae!
 
After Boston, I was headed to Connecticut on a Sunday, so not much was open. But a really nice woman I met at the book signing led me to Aqua on the Water, where Chef David Henry Thomasson and Assistant Chef Mike Mastrianni made me delicious Grilled Eggplant and Zucchini.  They also made a great Polenta dish, and were sweet enough to give me the recipe!  David was so sweet and accommodating.  The view was pretty and the owners were so great.  If any of you ever find yourselves in Clinton, Connecticut, or if you live there, I recommend checking this place out.  And they will make the Polenta dish for you even though it's not on the menu! And hey, maybe you can convince them to put it on the menu.
 
I also really wanted to try out It’s Only Natural and Health in a Hurry, but I ran out of time.

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