Too Much of A Good Thing (Almost): Polenta Crusted Roast Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic Tapped Out by New Hands and Farewell Luna
I remember thinking as a child that there are some things that I would never get tired of. Oddly enough, most of these thoughts revolved around condiments. First it was mayo and butter. I would put these on everything. Then one day, famished and alone after returning home from first grade, I decided to start spooning right from the mayo container and licking the butter stick. A hardcore vomiting session later and I was done with both of them. Next it was ketchup. I was dared to drink an entire cup full of ketchup. If I was able to do so I’d make a dollar (probably should have charged more). I filled the cup and was only able to take about an inch off before I started to suffer from incredible heartburn. There were similar episodes of insanity that involved wasabi, soy sauce and mustard. Not once have I learned my lesson.
My latest episode of “there are some things I will never get tired of” involved the most precious oil in my kitchen, olive. Now that J-Fur and I have been placing a lot of bills into getting a high quality olive oil, I can put that stuff on anything. Vegetables, bread, cereal, you name it, I can douse it in olive oil. This weekend I decided to make Polenta Crusted Roast Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic from Simple Bites. I didn’t even balk at the 3/4 cup of olive oil. But after dropping in the rosemary, garlic and potatoes I began to see just how much 3/4 of a cup of olive oil really is. I cooked and cooked and cooked the potatoes. I also stirred and stirred and stirred them. The end result was a pile of steaming golden browned potatoes with beautiful pieces of garlic and a hint of rosemary. It was awesome. But the bottom of the pan was filled with a bunch of potatoes that were (gasp!) too oily. After eating, I felt slightly weighted down like I imagine a penguin caught in an oil spill might feel. I looked in the mirror and was hit with a depressing realization…I was sick of the olive oil. I finished the pan (that’s how good they tasted even with the ridiculous amount of oil) and vowed that next time I would cut the oil down to size. Two days later (due to my extra potatoes and rosemary) I made them again, reducing the oil level. There was no feeling weighted down during this round. I ate my way through the entire pan of potatoes without so much as a greasy napkin.
Pair these potatoes, especially the oil heavy original version, with something that you can’t get enough of (to offer a little balance). I’m thinking something like the “Whichever Way You’ll Have it” by New Hands or “By the Morning” by Farewell Luna. New Hands’ new single sounds a little like the electro-dance jams that Diamond Rings has been releasing out into the world with a spacier feel. Think Diamond Rings on Jupiter. I, for one, can’t get enough of Diamond Rings. Therefore, something that reminds me of him will never be a bad thing. With each subsequent release New Hands dishes out something a little different and a little better. I can’t help but wonder what they’ll do next.
“By the Morning” is the title track and kickstarter for Jared Wohl’s new four song EP. Released under the name Farewell Luna the former N.O.O.E front man plays a brand of soul fused alternative rock with a wrestling edge. Its peaceful, slightly electronic and full of tap outs. You can check out the rest of the EP at Farewell Luna’s bandcamp page.
zö says:
roast potatoes… i’m somewhere in the middle of the “can’t get enough of” process for them too. :>
Tender Branson says:
I know that feeling. I know that feeling well.