Ritas Famous Dressing Balls Recipes

RITA'S FAMOUS DRESSING BALLS

Steps:

• Place bread in a large bowl and let sit overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Sauté onions and celery in butter or margarine tender. Pour over bread and toss with hands to mix.
• Add chicken broth and mix with hands again. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Add eggs and celery seed and mix thoroughly.
• Form into 2" balls and put in a baking dish.
• Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown.

FRIED AND STUFFED RICE BALLS (ARANCINI DI RISO)

Steps:

• Breading: Put the bread crumbs in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the risotto, bread crumbs, Parmesan, basil, and eggs. With damp hands, using about 2 tablespoons of the risotto mixture, form the mixture into 1 3/4-inch diameter balls. Make a hole in the center of each ball and insert a cube of Gorgonzola. Cover up the hole to completely enclose the cheese. Roll the balls in the breading to coat.
• In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour in enough oil to fill the pan about 1/3 of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 350 degrees F. (If you dont have a thermometer, a cube of bread will brown in about 2 minutes.) In batches, fry the rice balls, turning occasionally, until golden, about 4 to 5 minutes. Drain on paper towels and serve.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and keep the broth hot.
• In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter. Add the wine and simmer until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup hot broth and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking the rice, adding the broth, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and allowing each addition of broth to absorb before adding the next. Cook the rice until tender but still firm to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the remaining butter, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
• Yield: 2 cups

STUFFING BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add celery and onion; cook and stir until tender, 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in remaining ingredients. Shape into eight balls. , Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake until a thermometer reads 160°, about 20 minutes.

RICOTTA MEATLESS MEATBALLS WITH SAUCE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet or large plate with waxed paper.
• Combine ricotta cheese and eggs in a large bowl; mix well. Add bread crumbs, Pecorino Romano cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper; mix until thoroughly blended.
• Take a scoop of the mixture with a small cookie scoop and put it in the palm of your hands. Roll it into a ball and place on the waxed paper. Repeat until all of the mixture has been shaped into balls. Place in the refrigerator while you make the sauce.
• Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, wine, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Add ricotta balls to the sauce. Simmer, shaking the pan occasionally to cover the balls with sauce, until heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately.

DRESSING BALLS

Steps:

• Drain some broth from your turkey (you can used canned if necessary, but it just isn't as good).
• Chop celery& onion, add to broth and simmer until tender.
• Dump bread, broth (with onions& celery), salt& pepper in a large bowl and mix until tacky.
• Take a handful of stuffing and form into a ball about the size of a baseball.
• Place each ball on a cookie sheet until the sheet is full.
• Bake at 350 until the tops start to brown.
• Eat hot.

GRANDMA DOT'S STUFFING BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; grease with cooking spray.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and celery; cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in salt, poultry seasoning, and pepper; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Whisk eggs and chicken broth together in a large bowl. Fold in bread cubes and parsley. Pour in onion mixture; mix together until combined.
• Shape mixture into 2-inch balls and arrange on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until golden and crisp, about 20 minutes.