Try This---Arancini, Deep Fried Risotto Rice Balls

Try This—Arancini, Deep Fried Risotto Rice Balls

This is one of those recipes that is so worth the effort that it’s hard to put into words. It kinda makes you want to drink a glass of wine, fall in love with an Italian, quit your job, and move to Southern Italy. It’s seriously that good. I love a good risotto. If I had to pick just one food to take with me to a desert island…Anyway, you get the idea. I didn’t think that risotto could transform itself into an even more delicious dish until I had arancini. Like, for real, add cheese… and breadcrumbs… and fry?! Why didn’t I think of this before?!

Try This---Arancini, Deep Fried Risotto Rice Balls

Watch the video for a step by step tutorial on how to make this amazing dish. All you need is a little bit of leftover risotto to…ahem…get the ball rolling. You must try this!

Images: Cristinascucina and Jamie Oliver

Try This---5 Unapologetically Vegetarian Burgers for Your Meatless Monday

Try This—5 Unapologetically Vegetarian Burgers for Your Meatless Monday

Before I became a vegetarian, I used to head over to the East Village to a place called Paul’s PalaceĀ  down on 2nd Ave & St Mark’s Pl. I’m probably giving away my age, but this was at a time when the East Village was sprinkled with drug addicts and punk rockers, not a hipster in sight. Anyway, this was THE burger spot. This place served up any topping you could think of, all on top of a 1/2 pound burger. That was many moons ago. In fact, it’s rapidly approaching 25 years worth of moons ago. I only mention Paul’s Palace (I think it goes by Paul’s Da Burger Joint now) because over the years, it’s kinda sculpted the way I build veggie burgers. Because of Paul’s, there is no such thing as too many toppings… no such thing as a savory sauce that doesn’t belong. I’m talking so many toppings, you might have to eat this burger with a knife and fork. I still think y’all might be sleeping on me and my veggie burger craft. You hear me? I’ve even put grilled fruit on a veggie burger. What?! I know you hear me now!

Anyway, I rounded up some pretty unique veggie burger recipes for you. Some of these recipes will work even if you use store bought veggie burger patties. I kinda feel like the toppings make the burger anyway so you should still check these out. If you’re more adventurous, you should totally make the burgers from scratch. It’s so worth it. Just remember that veggie burgers are rarely the same consistency as meat burgers, so don’t feel bad if your homemade patties fall apart a bit. It’s the taste that matters and these are sure to please. You must try these!!!

1. Meatloaf Veggie Burger with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

This is a meat and potatoes kinda burger. Comfort food fa realz. And fried sage leaves! Are you kidding me?!

2. Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers with Avocado Sriracha Aioli

You already know how I love me some sriracha. This burger does not disappoint!

3. Veggie Sliders with Blackberry BBQ Sauce

This is a recipe from Lightlife, using their Lightlife Original Smart Patties. Of course, for me, it’s all about the sauce.

4. Quinoa Veggie Burger with Roasted Red Pepper Relish

Roasted red pepper relish?! Seriously, I don’t even need to convince you to try this one.

5. Tabasco Double Bean Veggie Burger

This is a fresh and spicy take on your run of the mill black bean burger. Take my word for it, you want to use fresh corn for this one!

I am always on the hunt for new and inventive veggie burgers! Do you guys have any suggestions? I’m all about those toppings yo!

Try This–Ramen Burger Recipe

I know I’m a little late when it comes to this particular food craze, but better late than never, eh?

These days, it takes about 30 minutes for a food to turn into a food craze. From there, it’s only a matter of hours before the recipe hack comes along, because no one has time to wait in line for the rest of their lives just to get a taste of pizza-hot-dog-crepes. So, when the ramen burger took Smorgasburg by storm, we sat back and waited for some intrepid chef to do their homework. Thankfully, Popsugar Food stepped in, making a step-by-step video of how to make the ramen burger at home.

Using simple kitchenware and basic ingredients, this recipe looks totally doable, and totally delicious. Watching host Brandi Milloy eat the final product had us glaring at our lunch salad with resentment. While there are a few tricky steps, it’s nothing too terribly complicated. If it takes you a few tries to get it right, then, oh well, guess you have to eat some fried-ramen leftovers. Life’s hard, huh?
***for us vegetarians try the recipe variation found here.

Source: Ramen Burger Recipe – How To Make Noodle Buns