Rice empanadas (gluten free!)

In Bolivia they make these delicious treats and I miss them. So...we made up this recipe to try to imitate them. They are NOT exactly the same but delicious nonetheless. PLUS...they are gluten free!

INGREDIENTS
1 cup rice flour
1.5 cups of shredded tasty cheese (any tasty cheese that will melt nicely works)
1 cup of cooked cassava (also known as tapioca or yucca)
3 tbsp butter (we used olive spread)

1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. If too dry, add milk or oil or more butter.
2. Make flat patties and put them in a baking tray (you do not need to place them too far from each other since they won't expand or rise).
3. Bake in pre-heated oven until they are slightly golden brown on the top and darker around the edges.

Yum!

Veggie and sausage risotto

F and I never made risotto before and it is quite weird since we really like wet rice with goodies. So, we went and bought some Arborio rice and made this dish. You can obviously go all vegetarian with this one...just leave the sausage out.
Makes enough for about 4 people.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 medium onion diced
2 sausages sliced
6 button mushrooms
1/2 leek chopped -we used the green part
Salt and pepper
Spices (we used coriander, paprika and turmeric)
1 cup arborio rice
3 cups of stock or water with stock cubes
Shaved Parmesan to serve

1. Brown the onion and then add the sausage and cook.
2. Once these are cooked, add the rest of the veggies and spices and cook until the veggies are soft. Add the rice and fry until it is slightly toasted.
3. Add one cup of the stock/water and stir constantly until the rice absorbes the moisture and then add the second cup and repeat until you add the third and last cup.
4. Check that the rice is cooked and the taste is right and if needed, add more water.
5. Once done and while still hot, stir in about 25 grams of butter in smaller chunks and mix quickly until completely melted (this will make the risotto creamy).

Add shaved Parmesan and serve!