Workin' on some new veggies

Okay, so there are a couple of vegetables that I've steered clear from using in the past as Jeff pronounced them as " I don't like them so don't bother using it." I would usually pass up a recipe or just leave that ingredient out if the dish wouldn't suffer, but tonight we threw caution to the wind and used something on the "don't like" list.

I think he went a little wiggy from the name alone - Arborio Rice, Parmesan, and Green Pea Pancakes. These cakes take a bit of prep work, but they came out very good. Using a hot skillet and a bit of oil creates a crispy crust on the outside. The arborio rice makes these very creamy inside with just enough cheese and fresh flavor from the peas. An egg and a couple egg whites bind the mixture together to help keep the round shape as it cooks away. So, what did Jeff think? "Wow these are really good! So... about them peas... Maybe they are not so bad, but if anyone asks, I still don't like them!" My evil plan is working... trying to make him try all the stuff he "thinks" he hates - I wonder what we will try out next!

I also made some Edamame Dumplings with a soy dipping sauce tonight. These could be made in advance and stored in the freezer before cooking if you like. Cooked edamame is pureed with some fresh lemon juice, toasted sesame oil and some spices to create a semi-smooth mixture. Wonton skins are the wrapper, so while it was easy to prepare, it just took awhile to get them all filled and shaped. These really take no time to cook and the sweet sauce was a nice accompaniment to the soft filling. I will have to remember this recipe when I need a fun and different appetizer since these can mostly done ahead of time.

Recipes
Edamame Dumplings
Arborio Rice, Parmesan, and Green Pea Pancakes