Rice Balls With A Chocolate Heart

1. Put the rice in a sauce pan with a spoonful of oil.

2. Fry the rice a bit and then add the water and a pinch of salt.

3. When the rice begins to cook and some of the water has cooked off, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and the vanilla.

4. Continue cooking the rice for about 25 minutes, stirring from time to time.

5. Cook the rice until it is soft and almost a smooth mass.

6. Set aside and allow to cool and solidify.

7. Juice 2 oranges.

8. Put the juice in a saucepan.

9. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and the cornstarch and cook the orange juice.

10. When the juice has thickened turn the heat down to very low.

11. Make 8 ping-pong ball sized balls from the cooled rice.

12. Push a chunk of broken chocolate into the center of the ball and roll smooth in your hand so that the chocolate is completely hidden and sealed.

13. Coat each rice ball with bread crumbs.

14. Slice the remaining orange in 8 very thin slices.

15. Heat a frying pan with a bit of oil.

16. Fry the orange slices gently until just golden brown.

17. Clean the frying pan and add fresh oil.

18. Fry the rice balls until golden brown.

19. To serve: Place a tablespoonful of the orange juice syrup on a plate.

20. Place 2 slices of the grilled orange on or near the syrup, and put a rice ball on top of each orange slice.

Chef's Note & Story

Two for each person.
If there is left over orange syrup you can drizzle a bit on top of the rice balls.