We hope your Holiday season has been absolutely lovely so far! As we head into yet another holiday and a whole new year, how are you preparing?
Last but not least, you’ll want to feed your guests and sip on something delicious as you count down the hours and minutes to when the ball drops. Here are the perfect vegan recipes to quench your thirst and fill your belly, after you’ve danced the evening away:
Gorgonzola’ Arancini (Risotto Balls)
2 qts. vegetable stock
1 Tbsp. olive oil
½ medium yellow onion, diced
1 Tbsp. chopped garlic
1 lb. arborio rice
1 oz. white wine
1/8 bunch Italian parsley, chopped
1/8 bunch thyme, chopped
1/8 bunch rosemary, chopped
1 Tbsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
½ cup soy Parmesan cheese
6 oz. soy gorgonzola-style cheese
1½ cups Egg Replacer (mix with 2 cups water until medium-thick)
2 cups bread crumbs
1 qt. canola or peanut oil for frying
• Simmer the vegetable stock over low heat.
• In a large-bottom pan (roundeaux or Dutch oven works best), heat the oil, add the onion, and sauté until slightly brown. Stir, add the garlic, and sauté for about 2 minutes.
• Add the rice, sauté about 1 minute, and stir constantly.
• Deglaze with the white wine, add 2 cups of the vegetable stock, reduce the heat to medium-high, and stir occasionally until the liquid is gone.
• Continue to add 1 to 2 cups of vegetable stock at a time until the rice is cooked and creamy and the liquid is gone. Add the chopped herbs and nondairy “Parmesan.” Spread the rice mixture on a cookie sheet and cool.
• While the rice is cooling, form the “gorgonzola” into little balls about the size of a ½ tsp.
• Mix the egg replacer with water.
• Form the risotto into 1-oz. balls, then put the “gorgonzola balls” in the center.
• Coat the balls with the egg replacer and coat again with the bread crumbs.
• Heat the canola or peanut oil in a deep pan to 350°F. Deep-fry the arancini until brown.
▪ 2 cups fresh raspberries
▪ 2 cups peach slices (from a jar, not a can)*
▪ 3 tablespoons orange zest
▪ Juice of 2 oranges
▪ 4 cups vodka
▪ 3 cups simple syrup
Directions:
1. In a large mason jar, combine raspberries, peaches, orange zest, orange juice, and vodka. Seal and set in a dark place for 2 weeks, stirring after 1 week.
2. Stir in the simple syrup, seal, and set in a dark place for 1 to 2 more weeks.
3. Line a sieve with a double layer of cheesecloth. Pour liqueur through the sieve into a large pitcher. Discard the solids.
4. Transfer the liqueur to a large mason jar or a variety of smaller mason jars.
*Use fresh peaches if you make this liqueur in the summer.
Whether you're setting goals, decorating for the party, or bringing the drinks, we hope you found some great inspirations for a little bit of each in this post! Have a SAFE and HAPPY NEW YEAR!