Sicily

Arancini, meaty rice balls

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arancini

Arancini is an Italian dish said to have originated in Sicily and is typically served in the Sicilian port city of Messina.

The meal is fried, stuffed, rice balls which are coated with breadcrumbs and filled with meat sauce, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and peas. Some other variations also include mushrooms, pistachios or eggplant.

The ingredients include vegetable oil, 2 large eggs, beaten, 2 cups Risotto with mushroom and peas, ½ cup parmesan, grated, 1 ½ cups bread crumbs, salt, and 2 ounces mozzarella, cubed.

For the rice mixture all that is needed is 500g of risotto, chicken or beef stock, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 medium egg and ¾ cup Parmesan.

To make the risotto melt butter in a large pan add rice and fry for a few minutes. Add stock and stir into the rice until cooked. Leave to cool at room temperature.

Then combine eggs, risotto, parmesan, and bread crumbs. Fold mixture into balls and coat with remaining bread crumbs. Place one mozzarella cube in the centre of each ball.

Add oil to a large saucepan and heat over medium flame, add balls and fry until golden brown. Add salt to taste.

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Sardinia, very nice

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sardinia

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the geologically oldest in Europe. It’s a close neighbour of Corsica to the north, Italy, and Sicily. Its capital city is Cagliari.

The island is mountainous with high rocky coasts and several bays, inlets, and rias. The island has a Mediterranean climate on its coasts, plains, and lowlands while a continental climate exists in the centre.

The island has come under influence from Romans, Byzantines, Italians, Austrians and theSpanish and some of their traditions are still practised in Sardinia today. Sardinian and Italian are the main languages spoken on the island. It is also site of several megalithic structures and aUnesco World Heritage Site.

The Sardinian diet relies heavily on meat, dairy products, grains, and vegetables. Sardinians also drink more beer per capita than anywhere else in Italy.

Sardinia has three international airports connecting it to the mainland of Italy and other parts of Europe. There are ferry companies which operate between Sardinia and cities in France and there is a rail network which connects towns across the island.

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Malta, where centuries of history live

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malta
One of the most densely populated countries in the world, the small Mediterranean island of Malta remains popular among British tourists. The island sits south of the island of Sicily and just north of Libya in the Mediterranean Sea.

The island has a warm climate and many recreational areas which makes it a tourist favourite.There are three Unesco World Heritage Sites on the island which is filled with architectural and historical monuments.

Among them are the Megalithic Temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world. The island has a strong historical background having once been a base for Phoenicians, Hapsburg Spain, Romans, Aragonese, Arabs, Norman, French, and British.

Carnival has had a strong place in Maltan culture and it also has a strong Christian legacy. The architecture has been highly influenced by its Roman culture with classical and marble structures. Mosaic floors and Christian frescos decorate catacombs and Romanesque as well as Southern Gothic movements also have a place in Maltan culture.

The Italian artist Caravaggio painted seven of his works in Malta, two of the most notable being on display on the island.  

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