Wonder Years menu(Dolce Snr's vegetable medley- stick all your veggies chopped up in a dish and bake with mozzarella, Parmesan, salt and pepper)

My sister lives in the Wonder Years movie, all her neighbours say hello, know each other, have street parties, are so nice and are invite each other for potlucks. The above dish was made for a party at one of these such events. I am not a fan of the vegetable medley she made as it was a little soggy and cheesy for my liking but I did like my brother-in-laws tomato salad with fresh basil, mozzarella and lovely olive oil (below).
I think the reason for the soggy vegetable dish was that she left the oven on (!) for a few hours while we were at the beach; it was set to a low temperature so the vegetables cooked but they didn't really roast. Leaving the oven on is not a good idea in my books but it did cook the concoction in time for the party. I think at the end it needed a bit of a broil so it crisped everything up! After a few vinos the neighbours ate everything and the rest the dogs and bees had a go at, so well done for another creative cooking experiment big Sis!

My brother in law is the very adept chef in the family. We all strive to be naturals like Momma Dolce but that may take many years still...

Arancini di Riso - Sicilian rice balls
You can find these arancini di riso at gas station rest stops, train station booths and anywhere you can buy a snack in Sicily. They are delicious, filling and great to eat on the run.

* 1 1/2 cups risotto rice
* 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese, grated
* 2 eggs
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 egg, beaten
* Flour for coating
* Breadcrumbs for coating
* Oil for frying

*you can add green peas or ground beef if you want additional tastes to the balls. I prefer them in their original state.

Boil rice and add to a bowl with cheese, 2 eggs, salt and pepper.
With oiled hands, shape rice into balls the size of small oranges (arancini). Roll aranci into beaten egg, then into beadcrumbs to coat well.

Deep-fry in oil until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve Serves: 4 - 6

To make them with a soft mozzarella core which is delightful to reach follow this tiny trick. With a small piece of mozzarella cheese. Push a hole with your finger into each ball after shaping. Insert the cheese, then close the opening to hide the cheese.

Mmmmm.....