Crispy Polenta Fingers With Herbs and Sun-dried Tomatoes
I’m not going to tell you about my year that passed, nor will I tell you about my New Year Resolutions because so many others are already doing it and probably doing it so much better than I could ever do. Plus I’m not so sure I want to expose my life like that to everyone, I never liked to just talk about the positive aspects of my life here because that would create a distorted view of it. The fact that I am living in the Tuscan countryside already sets people’s expectations, it immediately conjures up a rosy hue of a life that just isn’t true, not in my case. Yes, it i a lovely place live in and yes, there are a lot of beauty around me but to be honest, I see a lot of ugly too and everyday life is everyday life, more or less the same all over. That is my reality, there is good and there is bad, my life isn’t much different from yours and that is how it should be. And if you are after lifestyle and (food) bloggers who create that kind of illusion around them, there are many around so feel free to roam that realm because that is not me. I realize that I sound truly grumpy and maybe I am, but these lasts couple of weeks I have been thinking a lot about life on-line and what people show us and want us to see. And about what I show, here and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and that in its turn has led to that although I look, I hardly post anything on those networks. A sudden prudishness hit me and I don’t know if I want to change that. I’m not sure I want to be part of this strange view we give and get of life. I need to think more about what it means to me.
But surprise, surprise, I have a recipe for you! I haven’t posted any finger food for ages, nor have you seen any polenta here for a long time so what do you say about these crispy polenta sticks? I say they are nice, very nice. Well I say that about everything I post here but why would I post something I didn’t think was good? If you don’t have an oven, you can fry the polenta in plenty of oil but baking them in the oven is so much simpler and faster.
CRISPY POLENTA FINGERS WITH HERBS AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES
400 ml/1,7 cup polenta flour, you can use the quick version if you want
1,2 l/ 5 cups water (or whatever it says on the package)
1 tbs salt
1-2 tbsp freshly chopped mixed herbs
3-4 tbsp finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
5-6 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese
extra-virgin olive oil
Pour water in a big pan and when it is tepid, stir in polenta flour, herbs, tomatoes and salt and stir until the polenta has thickened. Add the parmesan cheese and stir well.
Spread out the polenta evenly on an oiled surface or on a parchment baking paper, make it a finger think and try to make it a square because that makes it easier to cut. If it is sticky, oil the knife or whatever you use and it will glide over the polenta like a dream. Leave to cool.
When the polenta is cold, cut it into finger sized sticks and put these on an oiled baking sheet of oven-proof form. Drizzle oil over and bake in a pre-heated oven (225°C/440°F) for 10-15 minutes or until golden and crispy, turning them over at halt-time.
I totally agree with what you say about what the idyllic lifestyle some bloggers supposedly lead. As you say, their lives are just like everyone elses, they just leave out the negative parts. Your photos are gorgeous, and will give this recipe a try
beautiful clicks and recipe! Those polenta fingers must be quite addictive.
Cheers,
Rosa
I’m not a fan of polenta, but these fingers look amazing enough to give it another try! And I so much relate to the first part of your post…
Ilva you said it so well and I am at my computer at this moment about to post similar sentiments. Having two weeks off with the kids I really detoxed from fb and am re-evaluating my blog and if I want to continue it. I am not a blogger who wants to tell every detail of my life. I just want to photograph beautiful food and share recipes. I love your post. The photos are lovely too.
Så sant så sant. Vilken stress alla dessa idealvärldar skapar. För även om det inte är meningen och alla vet att en bloggpost bara är ett utsnitt av de riktiga livet, blir det perfekta en norm i det undermedvetna. Jag tänker särskilt på alla unga som redan har så höga krav på att passa in och vara speciella på samma gång. Har själv tänkt dessa tankar och känt mig mindre motiverad att blogga….Snygga bilder på polentasnacksen!
Totally not grumpy, I’m with you on this Ilva!
Also wanna wish you all the best for 2013! Hope your new year will be filled with many positive things, health and delicious food. Would love to see you this year, it’s been way too long:) Hugs!
Grumpy or not grumpy, you are ‘real’, and I can say that after five months of not being able to access your posts online, I am truly happy to be able to follow your moods and see how what you’re preparing ties in with what you’re feeling in the introduction! Your recipes are simple and doable, and I can honestly say that my family eats better when your recipes are there for the taking, because you inspire! Happy New Year, Ilva!
HI Ilva- this recipe is so what is needed on a hot summers day here in Oz- and I agree wholeheartedly with you about the face we present on the internet- and I have been thinking about it also, especially after a few comments i saw elsewhere that people only present the positive meme things on-line- life really isn’t like that and as i write about my creative process the downs are as much of the creative person I am as the up moments, and sometimes dealing with those down moments is a way of working through other things as well.. And all the goal setting and new years resolutions set me on edge as well because sometimes life simply intervenes and then it makes you feel guilty about what you haven’t achieved according to your goals- so my plans are simple- more walking and more fresh fruit and vegetable juice!
These look wonderful addicting, I love the sun-dried tomatoes and herbs!
I agree 100% …as you know! Living in New Zealand people have all these unreal expectations of me and my life too. I laugh when I see instagram photo of said person’s “simple lunch” displayed on colourful quilting squares, in designer ceramics and delicate herbs sprinkled around. Yes, I really eat my lunch like that, yip everyday!
and…
I’m not a great fan of polenta either, the texture mostly. These look amazing though, so golden and crispy. I love the additions of sundried-toms too!
Oh wow, these polenta fingers/chips looks utterly incredible. I’ve been looking for something delicious to serve as a side for a party we’re having this weekend – now I know exactly what to make!
Grumpy or realistic. You know I agree totally with you. And I’ve long been wondering how to write the same sentiments and as usual you get straight to the heart and soul… I love the polenta fingers.
I am new to your blog; I found you through Jamie from Life is a Feast. How refreshing to read the truth! Thank you for reminding everyone that, as we all hide behind computer keyboards, we are also real people living real lives that are not always tied up with twine in a cute little canning jar placed on a studiously rustic piece of folded burlap on a distressed wooden table. With flowers.
Hmm, I have mixed feeling about this. Yes, I know there are a lot of food bloggers presenting an idealised life where all their kitchen utensils are artfully vintage, their homes perfectly pastel, and their toddlers suspiciously clean and smiley. But on the other hand, one of the main reasons I chose to write a food blog rather than a personal journal blog was that I do not think people want to explore the every nook and cranny of my personal misery either. I was drawn to food blogging, amongst other things, because of the fact that you could choose to show people an edited version of your life rather than absolutely everything – a soap opera rather than Big Brother. I don’t like airy-fairy “life is so perfect” blogs, but I also don’t like misery p0rn (and there is a lot of that “woe is me” stuff about…) I am a positive person and if you meet me in real life I will also tell you about the fun stuff I have been doing rather than my worst days and darkest fears (of which I have plenty) – so why should I be any different on my blog?
I do think social media is changing the way we present our lives to the outside world, and yes, it is biased towards sharing the positive and presenting us as better-looking, wittier and generally more exciting than we might actually be – that’s the nature of the beast though. But as in real life, I think people will naturally gravitate towards those who share personal details and stories in a similar way to themselves – and as for the rest, I say to each his own.
And the next time I visit you in your idyllic Tuscan existence with your perfectly behaved family and spotlessly groomed dog, I will insist that you make these polenta fingers for me, OK? ;o)
I agree that those too-perfect blogs with everything rosy all the time can be rather annoying. But we’re all blogging the way that works for us personally, don’t you think. My own blog is more about sharing recipes that are helpful for others than anything else (which I am guessing some people find boring; I hardly share anything of my own life.) But it works for me.
Your photos are gorgeous; makes me realize how much I still have to learn.
… and the polenta fingers are baked … absolute genius! The bag of polenta is now sitting on the cutting board. Let’s see if I get to it before our next travel.
Since I am a firm believer that perfect does not exist in this universe, I can’t be bothered to read those blogs. Since I believe that positive people are good for me, I try to surround myself with positive people and accept their perceived flaws knowing there is no perfect.
Social media leaves me dizzy at the moment. Friend has a different meaning to me.
Wow, I didn’t expect such response to what I wrote. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I just wanted to emphasize that it is only how I’M feeling about this online life we are living but anyone can do it the way they want and feel like. it is easy for me to unfollow and/or unsubscribe from what I don’t like and I do. And in that way we are all happy!
Jeanne – If I gave the impression that I want misery, you misunderstood me, all I said is that I, and I repeat I, don’t want to give an impression of ‘my life is a dream’, honesty is important to me and that is what I want on MY blog. I know that I could easily build up a picture of my fab life in the Tuscan countryside, others probably do live a fab life in the Tuscan countryside – I live a normal life. But that doesn’t mean that lots and lots of bloggers aren’t honest about their lives, it is just a matter of what you choose to talk about, I know lots of food bloggers who gives us a incredibly balanced view of their lives because they are honest, I have founds many true friend through blogging and that is the best compliment one can give to the community I think!
But there is a lot of what I grumped about above around and I am tired of it. Remember I wasn’t talking about blogs only, FB and Twitter and Instagram are suffering from it in the same way. I just feel a need to revise how I use and consume it.
Kalyn-of course we are and I love your blog because you shine through but when you know for a fact that certain bloggers are give a picture of living a life that they aren’t and so on, you cannot but feel that there is something going wrong here.
Thanks again to everyone!
I appreciate he fact that you were so honest about what you felt. What a yummy-looking picture!
http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.in/
Loved this post, and the recipe too. I completely relate to what you say here. Our lives are filled with the good and bad no matter our situation, and it’s difficult to communicate the honest complexity of life in a post.
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[...] Lucullian Delights – This award-winning blogger was born in Uppsala, spent her childhood in northern Sweden, and now lives in Tuscany with her Italian husband. The recipes on her blog reflect her passion for Italian food and culture. Recommended posts: “Pasta with fennel roasted tomatoes and crispy prosciutto” and “Crispy Polenta Fingers with Herbs and Sun-Dried Tomatoes.” [...]