No fire, knives, or other dangerous tools required! This tasty snack is fun to make with the kids, or can make a cute surprise for their lunches.
This healthy snack is flavorful, and fun to make and eat. It is a great alternative to unhealthy cookies, or chips, but doesn't taste bland like rice crackers or other health foods might. Also, the recipe can easily accommodate vegetarians, and makes for a fun project to do with the kids.
Ingredients: (makes 2 animals)
- 1 cup rice (Japanese or Korean white rice works better because it is sticky)
- 1 tablespoon sweet rice (optional)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seed oil
- 2 tablespoon of Japanese rice seasoning (sells for about $1.99 to $4.99 at Asian grocery stores. The ones with salmon, bonito fish, or dried shrimp tastes good, and adds a little splash of color to your rice balls. The ones with just dried seaweed and sesame seeds can be used for vegetarians)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (for mouse)
- 1 tablespoon sugar (for kitty)
- A sheet of Korean kim, dried seaweed paper (or can be substituted with Japanese nori heated over a flame, brushed with sesame seed oil, and dusted with salt)
Directions:
1.) Mix the rice and sweet rice, and cook, either in a rice cooker, or in a pot.
Forkitty:
- Put half of the rice in a bowl.
- Mix with half of the sesame seed oil, half of the rice seasoning, and the sugar. Mix well, so that the seasoning is distributed evenly.
- Take a half of the mix, and roll it into a ball. Squish it slightly with the palm of the hand so that it forms an oval like shape. This will be the head for the kitty.
- Take the remainder of the mix and cut it into two equal pieces. Roll them into balls. Use your index finger and thumb to press the balls so that they form a triangular tip. These will be the ears.
- Press the ears into the head.
- The seaweed paper can be cut using scissors, or simply through a process of folding and tearing. Form whiskers, eyes, nose, and mouth as desired to decorate the face of the kitten.
For mouse:
- Put the remaining rice into the now empty bowl.
- Mix in the remainder of the sesame seed oil, the remainder of the rice seasoning, and the soy sauce. Mix well, so that the rice is evenly coated light brown.
- Take half of the brown mix, and roll it into a ball, and squish it slightly with the palm of the hand to form another oval like shape. This will be the head for the mouse.
- Take the remainder of the brown mix, and cut it into two equal piece. Roll them into balls. These will be the ears.
- Then press the ears into the head.
- The seaweed paper can be used in the same way to make whiskers, eyes, nose, and mouth for the mouse.
Extra Tips:
- Encourage children to think of and make their own animals, objects such as boats, or maybe faces of people they love like their parents, brothers, sisters, or friends. It can also be used on holidays, by being made into hearts on Valentine's Day, four leaf clovers on St. Patrick's Day, bunnies on Easter, and Christmas trees or Santas on Christmas.
- To make this snack into a meal, just include vegetables or meat or any other items usually used to compliment rice.
The copyright of the article Kitty or Mouse Rice Balls Recipe in Kids Cooking is owned by Karen Kim. Permission to republish Kitty or Mouse Rice Balls Recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
