Julie's Kitchenette

Book Review & A Giveaway

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I am so excited to review Dynise Balcavage’s newest cookbook! This book is packed with fun and fabulous recipes, covering a wide variety of holidays from the traditional (all of the usual cultural and religious holidays) to the not-so-traditional (like Girls’ Night In, Snow Day, Tailgate Party, and Slumber Party, to name a few). Even better, these recipes also make fabulous go-to recipes for weeknight dinners, when you want to get out of your rut and try something new and out-of-the-box.

The polenta fries is one of those recipes. I cooked up a pot of the polenta, thinking that I would serve them up along side some veggie burgers. What I discovered was not only were they really delicious as fries, but that the polenta itself would be wonderful served up on it’s own, topped with a grilled portabello mushroom or oven-roasted veggies. This stuff is good!

Everything that I have made from this book has been delish. The Thai-Centric Mac & Cheese is outstanding (and actually you can find not only that recipe but also a video of the beautiful Dynise preparing it, on Everyday Dish). I’ve also tried the Sticky Rice with Mango, Sweet Potato Pie With Pecan Crust, Bruschetta With Easy Romesco Sauce and the Smoky Tahini Sauce. Everything was really delicious!

Fortunately for all of you, Dynise and her publisher have generously offered a giveaway, but have also said that I could share the recipe for the Polenta Fries. Unfortunately the giveaway is for US residents only. All you have to do is leave a comment below, and your name will be entered into the drawing for a free copy of the book. Don’t forget to include your email address, so that we have a way to reach you if you’ve won.

Now, before you go, here is the recipe for the Baked Polenta Fries. I highly recommend that you go give them a try soon!

polentafries

Baked Polenta Fries
These grain-based fries are a fun, healthy, alternative to regular French Fries, and you can easily whip them up using pantry staples. If you are of the supermom or superdad persuasion, instead of cutting them into “fries,” use cookie cutters to form them into kid-wowing shapes like animals, hearts, stars, and more. Serve with ketchup or Vegenaise, or with the Cumin-Harissa Dipping Sauce if you’re serving this to adults or adventurous kids.
Yield: A lot -enough for 4 hungry kids (or adults!)

6 cups broth
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried rosemary
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1 cup polenta or fine cornmeal
2 tbsp olive oil

1. Spray a large (9 x 13-inch-ish) cookie sheet with cooking spray. Use a high-sided sheet if you have one.
2. Bring the broth to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the salt, herbs and nutritional yeast. Reduce the heat to low, then whisk in the polenta, a bit at a time, taking great care to whisk away any lumps. Be very careful at this stage, because the polenta can bubble up like lava.
3. Whisk continuously until extremely thick, about 10 minutes*.
4. Remove from heat. Using a spatula, spread into the prepared cookie sheet, making sure the dough is at least 1/2-inch thick. Let cool (place in the fridge to speed up the cooling time, if you’re in a hurry), then cut into fries or desired shapes. If cutting into fries, make sure they are between 1/2- and 1-inch wide so they will hold together. Preheat oven to 425°F.
5. Using a pastry brush, coat the tops with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn over fries, and coat the other side with remaining oil. Bake 20 more minutes or until crispy.

Adapted with permission from CELEBRATE VEGAN, by Dynise Balcavage, 2012, LyonsPress

*I found that it took closer to 20 minutes for me, which may be due to the brand of polenta I used. I used Bob’s Red Mill.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  5. I’ve been hearing good things about this one. The bruschetta sounds great – if I win, it will be on the top of my to-make list! 🙂

  8. I was going to make sweet potato fries with truffle ketchup tonight, but this is changing the game plan!

  12. As a life long vegan I’m ashamed to say I’ve never been a cooker lol. I have a 4 month old son & he has inspired me to learn to cook and bake, so he can grow up with home made dinners at the table. This would be awesome to teach me! Thanks for the oppurtunity, yum! 🙂

  17. I just made some polenta yesterday! Maybe I’ll try to make it into fries! So creative Julie 🙂

  18. This book looks awesome! A must for anyone’s cookbook library. I would love to own it!!!

  20. I’ve made polenta fries from a tube, but I can only imagine they’d be better made from scratch! I also want to try the thai mac ‘n cheese.

  22. I need another vegan cookbook. 🙂 Especially, if it has a recipe of Sticky Rice and Mango. Woot woot! The Baked Polenta Fries looks so yummy. I haven’t had these before.

  24. I’m always on the look out for new recipes to try. I think this book is going to the top of my want list.

  32. Ooh, those fries look delicious! I’m crazy about polenta and its versatility, but I’ve never made fries out of it. That has to change pronto! 🙂

  43. Those fries look amazing! I am trying to start a new book collection and would live to add this one!

  44. This recipe looks great, however I am surprised that you are promoting Bob’s Red Mill, as they are no longer considered a conscious and compassionate company after a very large donation to OHSU for animal testing as revealed by The Informed Vegan.

  45. Eating plant strong is getting more and more delicious and diverse. Great book & thanks for the polenta fries recipe, Julie…you rock!

  46. Those look similar to a recipe I saw for chickpea flour fries. Now I want to try them both, in a half-n-half dish…

  47. I am a new vegan and I’m still learning the ins and outs. I would love a good cookbook of new ideas.

  52. As a new Vegan I am constantly hunting for new recipes. This looks wonderful and I would love an actual cookbook to help so I can stop downloading recipes off the Internet. Really want to continue this lifestyle since I am feeling so much healthier!!

  53. Ooh I’ve had polenta fries once before and they were amazing! Thanks for the reminder, I will have to try these!

  54. I usually pan fry polenta, but this looks like such a great idea and healthier too. I bet my kids will love shapes! Oh and I checked my book shelf, maybe I can make room for just one more great cook book!

  62. Oh my goodness—polenta fries? What a great idea from what sounds like a book of great ideas!

  63. I would love to win Dynise’s book. I love her recipes and her blog, but don’t own any of her cookbooks! Those polenta fries look beautiful, as well!

  65. Julie – these look great! I wonder if you could sub in some quinoa for half of the corn grits…

    • Thanks Heather! I would be very curious to try with some quinoa, although it might then need changes to the liquid ratio. Let me know if you try it.

  67. The recipes you mentioned sound very tasty! I love trying new recipes on my parents 🙂

  69. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe…I’m totally craving those now! I’d love to try a spicier version too, to serve with a fiery salsa. Cheers!

  70. My vegan “Southern Biscuits & Sausage Gravy” recipe should be shared with the Hatfields and McCoys who love this traditional b’fast dish but loathe the meaty grind found therein. But until I figure out how to get those two clans to come to the same b’fast table, I will need to add to my library of vegan cuisine documents and published, bound matter. So toss my name into the hat if it is not too late. Thanks!

  73. This book has been on my wish-list for a while now.
    Can’t wait to try the fries.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  76. this book look amazing! i’ve been waiting for it to come out. what a fun idea! and thanks for the recipe!

  77. I love Dynise’s recipes! Urban Vegan is one of my favorite cookbooks so I am certain that this one is equally awesome.

  78. Polenta — the ultimate comfort food! And fries — another comfort bad-boy food. Love the combo. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing a recipe and for doing this giveaway!

  80. Polenta fries? That is so weird sounding that it might be the best idea ever. I am definatly going to have to try that.
    (Thanks for hosting this giveaway!)

  81. In my area (rural south USA) it is a meat eaters world so as a vegetarian flirting with the idea of being vegan any new book to help is always great. thanks for this offer!

  83. This looks like a great cookbook! I really enjoy your blog and videos, Julie. Thanks for teaching me how to make my own seitan sausages!

  84. Awesome! Can’t wait to make them! I love Polenta! Thanks for sharing! The cookbook sounds amazing…going to check it out!