4) BROCCOLI BALLS
Ingredients:
1 C Cooked Broccoli (steamed until tender)
1 C Cooked Brown Rice
1/4 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 C Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs
Canola oil in a spray or pump bottle.
Directions:
Heat broccoli, rice and cheese in microwave then place into food processor and process until mixture is thoroughly pureed and bound together. Season to taste. You may now shape the mixture into various shapes (see ideas below). Roll shapes in bread crumbs (or hold the items and sprinkle the bread crumbs all over the shapes with your hand) to lightly coat the outside. Place on a baking sheet lined with non-stick foil or a silicone baking sheet. Lightly Spray the shapes with Canola Oil. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes --longer if shapes are larger.
Directions for Animal Shapes:
Mice shape - Make a triangle, but round out the edges. Roll in bread crumbs, then place flat on the baking sheet. Make eyes near the top third (of the front side) of the triangle by inserting a black bean (lengthwise) into each eye "socket". Spray with canola oil, then bake. After the mouse is finished baking, insert one sliced almond into each side of the top of the triangle head for the ears (pointy side into the head, fuller end out).
Use red bell pepper cut into a long skinny strip for the tail. Stick a little piece of red bell pepper into the pointy end of the face for the nose.
Caterpillar shape - make about 4 small balls (1 tbsp each). Make a 5th ball that's larger for the head. Roll the balls in bread crumbs, then place on the pan in the shape of the caterpillar. Insert a black bean (lengthwise) into each eye "socket", spray with canola oil, then bake. After the caterpillar is finished baking, insert two long skinny strips or red bell pepper for the antennas. You can also cut small "L" shapes out of the bell peppers to make pairs of legs on both sides. Insert an almond (on its' side) to make a mouth.
Koala bear shape - make a little, round mound (like a muffin top). Roll in bread crumbs, spray with canola oil, then place on the pan and bake. Once it's finished baking, insert the end of a walnut into each ear area (the 10 and 2 position of a clock). Place a kalamata olive in the middle of the face with the skinnier end pointing up. Use cream cheese to make two small circles (about the size of a blueberry) on each side of the kalamata olive nose--right next to the pointy top of the nose. Insert a black bean (lengthwise) into the center of each cream cheese eye.