Suppli

OK the main reason I wanted to make risotto was to have leftovers, to make suppli!! Or arancini, but that's the sicilian version. Basically, these are balls of risotto stuffed with cheese, breaded and then fried. YUM OH MY GOD.

Traditionally they have sauce, meat, even peas inside, but I wanted just cheese. Couldn't get a good pic of the inside but I tried. I think these were stellar. I made the sauce w/ tomato, tomato puree, basil, oregano, garlic and olive oil.

Asparagus Risotto

My first try at making risotto. I think next time I will not boil the asparagus, I like them a lot crispier. I'll just fry them at the beginning when I sweat the onion and garlic.

Coating the arborio rice w/ the butter:


Chopping the asparagus. See how limp? Not my favorite.


Adding ladle-fulls of stock to the rice. Took about 20 minutes and a lot of attention:


All absorbed. Added parmesan at the end. It was very creamy, toothsome and tasty!

Coconut Rice Pudding

I wanted to make bibingka but I wasn't in the mood for any of the recipes I found. So I compromised and made stove-top rice pudding with coconut milk. If I made this again I would use shredded coconut as well to bring out the flavor, and top with toasted coconut I think.

Ingredients assembled, raisins soaking in rum,


Milk and spices added to cooked rice,


Raisins (and the rum too, why not) and butter and vanilla added,


And plated,