Rice Balls with Meat Sauce

I've been told that I've taken my rice obsession too far with this recipe.  Deep fried, cheese filled rice balls?  Yes, please, sir, may I have some more??!!

I loved this so much, but I didn't follow the recipe exactly.  For instance, if I had added the artichoke hearts, the kids would have fainted.  If I had added the peas, the kids would have woke up from their faint and run screaming from the dinner table.  If I had added the mushrooms, flat out mutiny would have occurred and I'm sure flying rice balls would have been involved.


Rice Balls with Meat Sauce
Recipe from Taste of Home


Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped (since I HATE onions, I used about 1 tsp. of onion so finely minced it is nearly non existent, more like onion juice I guess)
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans (15 oz. each) tomato sauce
1 can (14 oz.) water packed artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup frozen peas
1 jar (4 1/2 oz.) sliced mushrooms, drained
3 bay leaves
1 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. dried oregano
2 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. pepper
CHEESE STUFFED RICE BALLS:
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups cooked rice
1/3 cup butter, melted
2/3 Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 oz. mozzarella cheese, cut into 3/8 inch cubes  (3/8 in.??  really???)
1 cup dry bread crumbs
oil for frying


Directions:

In a large saucepan, cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.  Stir in the next nine ingredients.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.  In a bowl, lightly beat 2 eggs.  Stir in the rice, butter, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.  Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.  Roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.  Press a mozzarella cube into each; reshape balls.
In a small bowl, lightly beat remaining egg.  Dip each ball into egg, then roll in bread crumbs.  In a deep fryer or skillet, heat oil to 375 degrees.  Fry rice balls until golden brown, about 4 minutes.  Drain on paper towels.  Discard bay leaves from meat sauce; serve with rice balls.