Lately I've been increasing my resolve to get more veggies in my boys' diets, so tonight I decided to make another recipe out of "Deceptively Delicious" - Rice Balls. Big mistake. After spending over an hour in preparation, from steaming to pureeing to mixing to rolling to cooking, I realized I could have prepared and baked about 5 lasagnas instead. There are many recipes in that book I do like, but I have found that many of them take a ton of time! This is the second time I tried a recipe where it turned out really bad. Sure, the concept is good - puree some chicken, sweet potato puree, cheese, and rice and form into balls, but the next step is where it turns ugly. Roll them in an egg and spinach puree (where they fall apart under the weight of the "green slime"), then roll them in bread crumbs (to try to cover how ugly they look), then "lightly fry" in oil (she calls for 2 tsp. but I found that I needed more like 1/2 a cup for them to actually cook). About halfway through my marathon cooking session I knew I should just abandon ship, but there was no turning back. Instead I pulled "Plan 2" out of the cupboard (Annie's Mac & Cheese) just as a backup. Good idea, because right when Micah saw the rice balls he said, "Mommy, I don't like these." I begged, pleaded and bribed, but he ended up having mac & cheese for dinner. (Normally I don't beg and plead, but I was desperate for the kids to at least try what I had slaved over.).
So, this is what they were supposed to look like:
Lovely, huh?
But this is what they actually looked like:
Would you want to eat that? Surprisingly, the rest of us ate them (Jaden ate a ton) and they tasted really good. But you shouldn't have to close your eyes to enjoy your dinner.
The funny thing was that I actually went online while they were cooking to see if anyone else had bad experiences with this recipe, and I came across this hilarious blog:
http://talesfromthedadside.blogspot.com/2007/11/tws-jessica-seinfeld-position.htmlI think I'll lay off the "Delicious" dinners for awhile :)
Bummer! I hate it when it doesn't look like the recipe. But they always set the bar so high! Have a great weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThat is so funny! Hopefully it's funny now? I tried the grilled cheese and that was just no good. The girls ate a little of it but I couldn't stomach it down. I guess I will forgo the rice balls. Yeah I thought the book would be great but I think I can do without. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Okay, Jaimie, you had me laughing out loud with that one. I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!! I went onto that other blog, too...it was so funny. I needed a good laugh too...it has been a rough week! :-) :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. God is good, I have a lot to be thankful for in my life. Your gift of photography is AMAZING!!
ReplyDeleteblessings,
Carrie
I tried making those too, a while back...same disaster! I discovered this week that Gracie will eat raw broccoli and will chew up and eat a little bit of uncooked green beans before spitting them out! Success for mom :)
ReplyDeleteSee, now THAT is why you google first, cook later!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link.
If you have to hide a vegetable in something so someone else doesn't know it.. it's not worth making LOL. I had to go to the site to see that recipe and I don't think i'd want to make it even though I love broccoli.
ReplyDeleteBroccoli tastes great boiled with penne and then sauteed in olive oil and garlic. Top with sauteed bread crumbs w/olive oil and even my 3 youngest will eat it!