I never met the man who might have been my current father-in-law—he passed away long before I met his son. I briefly knew the woman who might have been my mother-in-law, but she passed away before her son and I were married. Even though I never met them, I miss them…. I miss the stories and family history they could have shared, I miss sharing milestones and daily life with them, I miss the fun we might have had together…. Yenta Polenta is a recipe intended to honor their memory and carry on a tradition that just might be lost in translation.
Jump to RecipeFamily Stories
I know my would-be in-laws mostly through dear, sweet husband’s stories. One such story came to light when I was fussing at him for some thing or other. It was so unimportant I can’t recall what it was, but I remember he interrupted me by stating “yenta calaventa.” It stopped me in my tracks as I attempted to understand what was meant by this part-Yiddish, part-Spanish sort of utterance.
“What?” I asked him, my look clearly indicating I needed more information. He grinned, “It’s something my Dad used to call my Mom when she fussed at him.” I smiled. “And what does it mean, exactly?” His response: “I’m not sure.” My reply? “Ok.” I suppose we moved on to resolve the issue. (And the first time was definitely not the last time I heard it. I might hear it tomorrow … you never know.)
Yenta What?
I did some research, and here is what I learned:
- Yenta is a Yiddish woman’s given name. However, I think the use in this case referred to the meaning created by Jacob Adler, who (under a pen name) wrote a series of comic sketches in the 1920s and 30s for the Jewish Daily Forward. The main character was Yente Telebende, a henpecking wife. Perhaps “calaventa” sounded more at home in South Florida to my hubby’s dad than “Telebende.” Or maybe dear hubs misheard his pop.
- At any rate “calaventa” is Spanish. It’s a small gift of candy or money associated with the Day of the Dead.
I suppose I should be insulted he called me a Yenta calaventa, but hey—it’s family tradition!
When I decided to explore polenta, the yenta rhyme was too much for this poet to resist, therefore … yenta polenta. (Make it a gift for Day of the Dead and you’ve got a yenta polenta calaventa.)
Grits?
Polenta has a long history. Once upon a time it was made with various grains; however, today, it’s mostly made with corn meal. So after it’s all boiled down, one yenta’s polenta is another’s grits.
Being a child with southern heritage, I grew up eating grits on occasion, but I became acquainted with polenta later in life. You can buy a package labeled polenta, but I simply use corn meal. It’s important not to use corn meal that’s “instant rise” because that version has leavening agents. A plain, medium grain meal will do fine. My secret recipe includes a bit of southern flair—I use some white grits in addition to yellow corn meal.
About Yenta Polenta
Polenta is pretty quick and easy to make, and the recipe can be scaled up or down. It’s vegetarian, but can become vegan by subbing butter with olive oil. You can add salt or not as may be needed for dietary restrictions. Want meat? Add meat as a topping, like Italian sausage. Or keep it vegan with a plant-based substitute. This version calls for a cheese topping. Perhaps I should have called it ”Polenta Formaggio.” Doesn’t that sound so fancy—romantic, even—compared to ”cheese grits”?
I like polenta with portobello mushrooms and spinach in a garlic sauce, but this simple version is appealing, topped with cheese and a few extras. For dear, sweet husband I sprinkled a good amount of Parmesan cheese and added some red pepper flakes and fresh basil. For me, I sprinkled cotija cheese and added fresh ground black pepper, basil leaves and balsamic vinegar. Delicious. The leek and spinach filling for my Leek & Spinach Stuffed Bread would also make an interesting topping.
If you haven’t tried making polenta before, give it a go! If you’re pressed for time you can have a scratch-made dinner ready in about 30 minutes.
“But beyond the extravagance of Rome’s wealthiest citizens and flamboyant gourmands, a more restrained cuisine emerged for the masses: breads baked with emmer wheat; polenta made from ground barley; cheese, fresh and aged, made from the milk of cows and sheep; pork sausages and cured meats; vegetables grown in the fertile soil along the Tiber. In these staples, more than the spice-rubbed game and wine-soaked feasts of Apicius and his ilk, we see the earliest signs of Italian cuisine taking shape.”
― Matt Goulding
Yenta Polenta
Ingredients
Polenta
- 1 C yellow corn meal
- ¼ C grits not instant
- 4 C water
- 2 TBSP butter unsalted or salted, according to preference, or use oil for a vegan version
Toppings (optional)
- Parmesan or cotija cheese use vegan cheese for a vegan version
- red pepper flakes
- black pepper
- chopped fresh basil leaves
- balsamic vinaigrette
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a deep saucepan.
- Gradually whisk in the meal and grits and reduce the heat to low, stirring frequently, until the polenta thickens, about 15 minutes. (You can keep on low heat longer for a thicker consistency, just stir frequently to avoid sticking and burning.)
- Remove from heat, and stir in butter.
- Serve immediately with desired toppings.
