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Parties That Cook Heats Up Date Night with a Spicy Italian Recipe

0 comments By The Kitchen Whisperer Filed in Menus & Recipes Tagged with , , , , , , September 20th, 2012 @ 11:32 am

I’m not sure if it’s the upcoming America’s Cup races, Columbus Day, or maybe flashbacks of Lady and the Tramp, but Parties That Cook has decided to spice up its Date Night couples cooking classes. Come October, we’re taking guests on a virtual trip to Italy! Previously international menus of small plates will become themed Italian menus — at least for the first round of regional menus. And what better way to get you amped for a new class format than by sharing one of our favorite recipes from the class?! Find me someone who doesn’t enjoy fried mozzarella, and I will…call them crazy. You really have to try these ooey gooey bocconcini bites to understand. When they’re this easy to make, what’s stopping you?

Fried Mozzarella Bocconcini with Spicy Tomato Sauce Recipe
This recipe can also be found in our Appetizer Recipe Library

Ingredients
Sauce:
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cup San Marzano tomatoes, chopped with juices
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
10 basil leaves, chopped

Bocconcini:
3 cups canola
1 pound mozzarella bocconcini (about 24 pieces)
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Breading:
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups Italian bread crumbs
1 1/2 cups Panko bread crumbs
1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Toothpicks

Methods/Steps
Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, warm olive oil. Add garlic and pepper flakes; cook 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt and black pepper; simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the basil. Transfer to a small bowl and garnish with a sprig of basil.

Bocconcini: In a frying pan or wok, heat canola oil to 350ºF. Preheat oven to 200ºF. Drain cheese; pat dry. Sprinkle with salt.

Breading: In a bowl, whisk eggs and milk. In a second bowl, put flour. In a third bowl, combine the Italian and Panko bread crumbs. Divide the salt between each of the three bowls and mix well. Roll cheese in flour, dip into the egg mixture then lastly coat with the bread crumbs. Be sure to coat the bocconcini well, going back over a second time on each ingredient if need be.

Fry: Fry cheese in batches until golden, about 1 minute. Drain on a cooling rack set over a sheet pan. Keep warm in the oven until ready to eat. Insert toothpicks and serve warm on a platter with the tomato sauce garnished with basil.

Serves/Makes
Makes 24

Recipe created by Parties That Cook® | www.PartiesThatCook.com.

Put a Spring in Your Step with Parties That Cook’s Banana-Mango Spring Rolls

1 comment By The Kitchen Whisperer Filed in General, Menus & Recipes Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , May 13th, 2011 @ 5:33 pm

As we move into Spring and the weather warms up, you’re going to start to crave more fruit. It’s just a fact of life (much like how Dads are the original hipsters). In any case, these Banana and Mango Spring Rolls are sure to satisfy! The delicious Caramel-Rum Sauce provides  just the right “kick” to take this sweet appetizer (or snack) to the top! You can even make them as a post-Bay to Breakers reward!

Banana and Mango Spring Rolls with Caramel Rum Sauce
This recipe can also be found in our Appetizer Recipe Library!

Ingredients
Spring Rolls:
4 cups canola oil, for frying
4 bananas
1 mango
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
2 Tablespoons coconut oil
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1/4 cup rum
3/4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut for filling
12 (8-inch) square frozen spring roll pastry wrappers, thawed
1 egg, beaten or water

Caramel-Rum Sauce:
6 Tablespoons butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup rum
1/4 cup coconut milk

Garnish:
Toasted coconut
Powdered sugar
Mint sprigs

Methods/Steps
Preheat oven to 200ºF

Heat Oil: Heat the canola oil in a wok or frying pan to 360°F.

Cut Fruit: Peel the bananas and cut them in half lengthwise from top to bottom. Cut the bananas into a 1/2-inch dice. Cut the mango into 1/2 inch dice as well. Roughly chop the macadamia nuts and mince the ginger. Set aside until ready to use.

Sauté Fruit: Melt coconut oil in a medium sauté pan.  Add brown sugar, minced ginger, rum and salt; bring to a boil, then add the fruit.  Sauté for about 2 minutes until the fruit softens slightly. Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl.  Let cool slightly. Mix in the toasted macadamia nuts and coconut right before ready to make the rolls.

Make Spring Rolls: Place 1 spring roll wrapper on work surface in diamond shape (1 pointed end toward you and 1 pointed end in opposite direction). Cut off 2 inches of the end pointed towards you. Place 2-3 Tablespoons of the fruit mixture in the center. Fold bottom (now cut) corner of spring roll wrapper up over fruit, and then fold in sides over fruit. Brush remaining unfolded part of spring roll wrapper with water or beaten egg. Roll up wrapper, enclosing fruit completely. The spring roll should look like a log. Place onto a sheet pan. Repeat with remaining spring roll wrappers and fruit mixture.

Fry Rolls: Working in batches of about 6 rolls at a time, add spring rolls to 360°F oil and cook until golden brown and crisp, turning often, about 5 minutes per batch. Using a skimmer, transfer spring rolls to a cooling rack over a sheet pan. Keep warm in a 200ºF oven until ready to eat.

Caramel-Rum Sauce: Combine butter, brown sugar, salt and rum in heavy medium saucepan. Bring mixture to simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and starts to bubble and turn darker brown. Add coconut milk and whisk until mixture is smooth.

Serve: Slice spring rolls in half on an angle. Place sliced spring roll on a serving platter. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, powdered sugar and garnish with mint.  Serve caramel-rum sauce in a bowl for dipping.

Serves/Makes
Makes 24 Pieces

Recipe created by Parties That Cook® www.PartiesThatCook.com.