Genève's Kitchen » Snack http://www.genevestewart.com/blog Simple, tasty, and healthy recipes by Geneve Stewart. Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:47:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 Having a Ball http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/12/12/having-a-ball/ http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/12/12/having-a-ball/#comments Wed, 13 Dec 2006 06:35:21 +0000 Geneve http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/12/12/having-a-ball/ arancini.jpgSome of my favorite dishes are those that were inspired by leftovers.  This may be in part to the satisfaction that comes with being able to inventively transform one dish into another thus saving time and eliminating waste, both virtuous by-products of this transformation.  But perhaps another reason is that this process is sort of like alchemy – turning the unfinished remains from one night into the star of the following night's meal. 

Well, after the delicious risotto that Kareem and I enjoyed I already had in mind what I would do with the leftovers.  I'd seen Giada De Laurentiis do it once on her show and I had the luxury of enjoying them in Italy too: arancini.  These are crispy golden orbs that are filled with the creamy risotto of your choice (in this case mushroom) and nestled in the center a gooey surprise of fresh mozzarella.  The Italian name for these, 'arancini' means little oranges – something that these treats loosely resemble in appearance.  These are incredibly easy to prepare and they make for a delicious snack or appetizer.

Enjoy!

Arancini
 

  • Leftover risotto (you can make as many or as few as your leftovers will allow)
  • 1 egg (This was enough for 5 balls that fit into the palm of my hand – about the size of a small clementine)
  • 1 Tablespoon of water
  • 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (I used plain panko bread crumbs – panko are the Japanese-style crumbs and they are available at most grocery stores now)
  • 1 ball of fresh mozzarella, cubed into small 1cm sized pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

1)  Take some of the risotto and form a small ball in the palm of your hand – roughly the size of a clementine.  Insert a piece of the fresh mozzarella into the center of the ball and roll the ball so that it's uniform in shape and the mozzarella is hidden in the center.  Make as many of these balls as your leftovers allow.

2)  Crack the egg in a dish and whisk well – add a tablespoon of water.  Prepare another dish with the bread crumbs.  Now taking each ball one at a time dip them into the egg mixture – allow the excess to drip off and then roll into the bread crumb mixture so they are evenly coated.

3)  Heat a sautee pan over medium to high heat and add the olive oil.  When the pan is hot add the balls and rotate them once each side turns golden brown.  Once they are done let them rest for a few minutes on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. 

]]> http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/12/12/having-a-ball/feed/ 4 Oh Nuts! http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/06/24/oh-nuts/ http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/06/24/oh-nuts/#comments Sun, 25 Jun 2006 03:30:43 +0000 Geneve http://www.genevestewart.com/blog/2006/06/24/oh-nuts/ nuts.jpgAs a little nibble before dinner or as a mid-day snack nuts provide a nutritious and satisfying treat. I wanted to spice up the usual nut mix (pun intended) by adding the exotic flavors of ginger, cumin, curry, and chili powder. This is a really simple way to add a twist on the regular ol' nuts in a bowl and they will fill your house with the aromas of freshly roasted nuts and spices. This takes just a little amount of effort but will be very impressive to those you decide to share these delectable treats with.

Spicy Nuts

1/2 Teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 Teaspoon chili powder
1/2 Teaspoon curry powder
1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne pepper
1/4 Teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 Teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon salt
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Cups raw mixed nuts (use whatever kind you like, Trader Joe's offers a bag of raw mixed fancy nuts that include hazlenuts, brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, pecans… I added some raw pistachios too)

1) Preheat oven to 325F.

2) Measure the dry spices, salt/pepper, and nuts into a medium sized bowl. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pan on the stove.

3) Add the melted butter to the bowl and stir the nuts and spices so that everything becomes evenly coated. The aromas will be fantastic!

4) Pour the nuts onto a baking sheet and spread them out so that they are all in one layer. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes – stir every 5 minutes so that they will roast evenly. Depending on your oven you may want to take them out even before 15 minutes – keep an eye on them after 10 minutes and when they start to look toasted they can be removed from the oven. Allow to cool and then enjoy!

Stay tuned for another great way to enjoy these spicy nuts…

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