Rachael Ray’s Eggplant Stew with Honey Raisin Polenta
I can’t take any credit for this one! The second I watched Rachel make this recipe on the Food Network last week I knew it was going to the top of the “to cook” list immediately. WOW – it was amazing!
We halved the recipe, so I guess we each ate 1.5 servings. I guess that’s why we’re stuffed! I would recommend either thirding the original recipe if you’re serving two or reducing the veggies a bit (unless you want to feel stuffed too!).
Of course we left out the onion, but otherwise I pretty much stuck to the halved recipe for the stew part. I did use only a tsp of EVOO instead of 2 tbsp. I also completely forgot the tablespoon of balsamic vinegar – which is a real bummer because I bet it would have really upped the stew flavor! Darn!!
For the polenta, we used 1 cup of homemade vegetable stock, half a cup of skim milk, 1/2 a cup of Bob’s Red Mill polenta, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp smart balance, fresh rosemary from the garden, 1/4 cup regular raisins and 2 tbsp grated Parmesan. It was a little thicker than Rachel’s, but tasted great! The honey + raisins were a perfect touch! (And of course I love ANYTHING that’s half savory, half sweet!)
Our version created 2 servings that were about 450 kcal, 25 grams of fiber and 19 grams protein each. I don’t think I’ll be wanting any dessert tonight (although the husband is on the couch eating peanut butter and wafers – guess he’s not too full!)
This polenta will be making more appearances soon! I LOVE corn products and this was SO much better than any instant grits (obviously!). I found it at Harris Teeter, but I bet places like Whole Foods and EarthFare would have polenta in bulk too.
Pumpkin Sandwich
You know, I think I was too hard on my pumpkin bread. It IS good – it’s just not wet/doughy good. Today I toasted a piece in the oven and then put some almond butter between the layers. But in volume-eater style I took it back apart and ate it as two pieces 🙂
With tea –
Snack was about 275 kcal, 5 grams of fiber and 10 grams protein.
CopyCat
There are a handful of recipes that have looked SO good from Eat, Drink & Be Vegan on other blogs that I had to jump on the bandwagon and get it (well, mom got it for me as an Easter present and it arrived today! Thanks mom!). I need to read it cover-to-cover and mark all the recipes I want to try or I’ll never get around to making them (there are way too many unused cookbooks in this house). I am determined to use this one!
I also FINALLY got In Defense of Food. After Eat, Pray, Love, this one is also being bumped to the front of the line. I’m in Indonesia now in EPL, so it shouldn’t be too long!
PACKAGES, Continued!!
A HUGE thank you to Jessica for sending us a bottle of a New York Finger Lakes Riesling!! I love Rieslings 🙂 We hope to make it to the Finger Lakes wine region someday, as I hear there are some hidden jewels there. THANK YOU again Jessica!!
OK, I’m off to read!
Julz says
With every sight of this pumpkin bread I am becoming more and more inspired to make some! I’m thinking a zucchini/carrot/pumpkin will be DELISH…or maybe I should just choose one haha and make that! Everyone has jumped on the pumpkin-bread wagon now…It’s spread like wild fire it’s crazy! Enjoy your evenings Kath and Husband 🙂
melissa-little runner says
That’s a ton of fiber for something without beans or bran! Great job Kath…and Rach:)
Sarah says
Has anyone eaten at Panera bread? Any good recommendations?
LT says
totally unrelated but if any of y’all love funny youtube stuff, watch Benny Lava – an actual Indian music video that is hilarious (to me) 🙂
Tina says
Omg, Kath! I started In Defense of Food this morning!!! We share the same brain waves! This book is right up your alley! Your blog quote is the first sentence of the book! 🙂
hk says
in the words of rachel ray, “Yum-O” (I never actually really liked that phrase, but I had to haha) Enjoy the reading, ED&BV is sooo good, I just got it myself!
Bev says
I’ll will be trying this. Kath, is that a plastic orange drinking cup ?
Kris10 says
Your pumpkin sandwich snack induced a drooling episode. Yum.
Ally says
That Polenta looks delicious!
I’m also really jealous, I’ve been wanting ED&BV for awhile now!
NCCarter says
I just got In Defense of Food at the library last week (after being on the waiting list for like, 2 months). We’ll have to discuss when we finish reading. I’m also reading the new Jodi Picoult novel, and that’s due back, um, yesterday, so I’ve got to finish that up before starting IDoF.
Romina says
Yum! I’ve made this stew before and enjoyed it thoroughly. Sometimes Rachael Ray really astounds me with her skills!
Polenta on top must have tasted delicious. =)
Have fun with ED&BV, it was my first vegan cookbook, and I have yet to make everything I’ve flagged on it. There’s just too much that sounds delicious!
KarenR says
I love Michael Pollan. The Omnivore’s Dilemma is my favorite book ever. I liked In Defense of Food a lot, but you must read Omnivore’s Dilemma if you haven’t. It’s life-changing.
Kristin says
wow! My copy of Eat, Drink & Be Vegan just arrived today AND I’m currently reading In Defense of Food, ha! we’re on the same page 🙂 I need to go through the cookbook & mark the pages too. Enjoy! 🙂
Kelsey says
I am from the Finger Lakes Region and I must say, it is wonderful, especially in the summer and fall! Not only is there plenty of fabulous wineries, but also beautiful waterfalls and hiking trails (“Ithaca is Gorges” anyone?)
Kiala says
Wow. 25 grams of fiber in one meal.
I think I would explode.
ali says
panera is amazing!
A soup/salad/bread combo is always the best option
Megan says
Thanks for the dinner inspiration! I had an eggplant in my fridge that was on its way out and your dinner inspired me to make my own eggplant dish. It was delish 🙂
Betsy says
i’ve never made polenta before-it’s one of those things that scare me. but, this might inspire me to do so!!
i also really love riesling. it’s so much different than other whites and quite tasty. hopefully we’ll get your review soon!
Kelly T says
Kiala- i was thinking the same thing. i had a vision of someone rolling me to the bathroom like willy wonka.
The snozberries taste like snozberries.
I just ate a heaping pile of kale chips. i even got the boy to eat some. such a good find.
ChocolateCoveredVegan says
Wow, now I am really craving polenta… but I don’t have any. Darn it all! I’ll have to live vicariously through you!
Amandamoo says
Panera has nutritional info on their website. It’s handy.
I’d like to say that I had collard greens for the first time tonight and they were a success. The boyfriend (who is anti-eating-like-a-rabbit) was out for dinner so I was on my own to eat all the rabbit food I wanted.
Thanks Kath!
Meredith says
Kath your dinner looks delicious that is one recipe I am definitely going to have to try! Your going to love ED&BV I thoroughly recommend you make the Sweet Potato Lentil Chili ASAP!
Jill says
I love Panera as well (it’s posted about in my blog!) Their salmon salad is the way to go, and way good for you!
Kath, I thought you had read In Defense of Food because of the quote? Anyway, I read it due to that and it is way great, though it was a little hard for me to take while working on my nutrition degree at the same time – almost too much at once, hehehe! And yeah, polenta is easy to find around (I found it at Kroger even!) and so much better than the pre-made type!
I’m joining the pumpkin bread rage too, now!
Erin says
I visited the Finger Lakes last summer – beautiful!
Kath says
Bev,
That is my plastic orange drinking cup! It’s not very photogenic, is it?! I like the taste of water in plastic more than glass and I always drink with a straw! (Sensitive teeth and easier to chug that way).
KarenR ,
I read Omni Del. for my class – it was very interesting and also saddening. I loved the PolyFace farm stuff – amazing what that man does! I think I’m going to like IDOF more – OD was a little technical/industrial for pleasure reading.
Betsy ,
This is how I cooked the polenta: heat liquids, add polenta, stir, done in 3-4 minutes. It was SO easy – and delicious!
Kelly T,
LOVE WILLY WONKA!!! I quote that movie all the time 🙂 Especially whenever I see gold foil!!
Amanda,
Glad you liked the collards! We’re having them next week, I think?!
Jill,
I read Pollan’s NY Times article (where I came across the quote) but haven’t read the whole book yet!
Re. Panera,
I LOVE the black bean soup with a side salad and their sourdough bread is the BEST EVER!! Note: one time I brought a slice home and weighed it to see if they really did serve a 2 oz portion and it was FIVE oz!! So make sure you eat a deck-of-cards size piece of that bread if you’re counting on their nutritional info.
Kath
Katie says
I LOVE eggplant. And that pumpkin bread looks so yummy!!!
Petite Yogini says
I look forward to seeing your creations from Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan.
BethT says
Your love of the sweet/savory combos means you HAVE to try the pineapple quinoa cashew stir from Veganomicon. Jenna has the recipe on her blog….I am eating some now and it is the perfect sweet salty yummy lunch!
Katie F says
I’m about a half hour away from the Finger Lakes…and I’ve actually been to Glenora! Rieslings are your best bet for Finger Lakes wines–good job, Jessica!