Miranda and Sara's Oops Dip

This was an attempt at making this: http://www.spain-recipes.com/artichoke-rice-cakes-manchego.html that went awry, but ended up with a very tasty result. Looking back, the main thing we forgot was something about corn meal... As in, we made the filling, tried to fry it, and wondered why it fell apart. Very tasty, though. :D

Miranda and Sara's Oops Dip

Ingredients

* Can of Artichoke hearts
* 2 oz butter
* 1 small onion, finely chopped
* 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
* 1.5 cups rice (12 oz)
* 2 cups hot chicken stock
* 2 oz grated fresh Parmesan cheese
* 5 oz Manchego cheese, very finely diced
* olive oil, for frying
* fresh flat leaf parsley, to garnish

Preparation

Melt the butter in a pan and gently fry the chopped artichoke heart, onion and garlic for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in the rice and cook for about 1 minute.

Keeping the heat fairly high, gradually add the stock, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is cooked - this should take about 20 minutes. Season well, then stir in the Parmesan cheese. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Leave to cool, then cover and chill for at least 2 hours.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the palm of one hand, flatten slightly, and place a few pieces of diced cheese in the centre. Shape the rice around the cheese to make a small ball.

Attempt to shallow fry the rice balls in hot olive oil for 4-5 minutes until they are crisp and golden brown. Yeah right. Make sure you fail. If done (im)properly, the rice balls will fall apart. Salvage them with the cooking spatula and set in a bowl. Spend the next hour or so trying to get most of the oil out. It will leak out slowly into the bowl and you can pour it away. At your own peril, try merely pan frying them, or just adding olive oil and baking longer.

Attempt to bake the rice balls. Make sure you fail. If done (im)properly, the rice balls will fall apart. Give up and put them in a bowl. Stir them up together. Everything should be cooked from the first step and some of it should even be sort of brownish after all the baking and frying. Garnish with fresh, flat leaf parsley, or whatever you have in the spice cabinet.

Pretend this was how it was supposed to be. Delicious on crackers.