WOW, these tasty treats were devoured at last night’s dinner party.  And the judges were…all expert chefs or food critics. Good going!

Flecked with black pepper and Gruyère, these crusty rice balls made for an irresistible hors d’oeuvre. They’re great for parties because they are baked rather than fried.

Recipe: Oven-Fried Rice Balls with Gruyère

MAKE-AHEAD  / VEGETARIAN /  Recipe from Food & Wine

INGREDIENTS

.                 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

.                 1 medium shallot, minced

.                 1 garlic clove, minced

.                 1 cup arborio rice

.                 2 cups water

.                 3/4 cup shredded Gruyère cheese (2 1/2 ounces)

.                 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 ounces)

.                 1/4 cup mixed chopped herbs, such as thyme, basil and oregano

.                 Salt and cracked black pepper

.                 2 large egg whites

.                 1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

.                 Preheat the oven to 450°. Lightly oil a large, rimmed baking sheet. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the shallot and garlic and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Stir in the water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until the water has been completely absorbed, about 10 minutes. Scrape the rice into a bowl and let cool to room temperature.

.                 Stir the Gruyère, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan and all of the chopped herbs into the rice. Season the rice with salt and generously season with coarsely cracked pepper.

.                 In a medium stainless steel bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until firm peaks form. Stir one-fourth of the whites into the rice to loosen the mixture, then stir in the remaining whites. Roll the rice into 1 1/2-inch balls.

.                 In a shallow bowl, toss the panko with the remaining 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Dredge the rice balls in the panko crumbs and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Bake the rice balls in the upper third of the oven for 25 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Let stand for 5 minutes, then transfer to a platter and serve.

HOT NEWS! The phone call came in just minutes ago, announcing:

Audubon International GREEN LEAF™ RATING 0f 5 (out of 5-the highest possible rating)! And it reads:

Ellwanger Estate B & B in Rochester, N.Y.
has achieved a rating of 5 Green Leafs
With an overall Green Leaf™ Survey score of 90.77%.

Congratulations on becoming a Green Leaf™ Eco-Rated Member in the Audubon Green Leaf™ Eco-Rating Program for Hotels! TerraChoice Environmental Services Inc. is pleased to provide this assessment of your facility’s overall environmental performance.

Your score of 5 Green Leafs confirms that Ellwanger Estate B & B is a world industry leader in eco-efficiency. Ellwanger Estate B & B is part of a select group that is continually introducing new environmental policies and best environmental practices that serve as goals and targets for the rest of the accommodation industry.

Ellwanger Estate B & B should be commended on taking steps towards realizing the cost savings and market potential behind adopting the accommodation industry’s Best Environmental Practices.

YOUTUBE MOVIE:  You are greener than you think. Green… “The Ellwanger Way” walks you through conservation, preservation and resourcing-to enhance your way to green.  Since this presentation, the Ellwanger Estate has been awarded 5 out of 5 green leaves in the Audubon International Green Leaf Lodging Program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_5OQGdOS0E 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z19th2BmEDc