Sun-Dried Tomato Stuffed Mozzarella Nuggets

Ingredients

• 12 sticks mozzarella string cheese
• 6 sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil)
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
• 3 cups vegetable oil
• for frying
• 1 cup bottled marinara sauce (for dipping)

Instructions

1. Remove cheese from wrappers.
2. Cut each cheese stick crosswise into thirds.
3. With a small knife, cut a thin opening along the length of each piece, being careful not to cut completely through.
4. If tomatoes are not pliable, soak in boiling water for 5 minutes.
5. Place them in a stack and slice stack crosswise into 6 thin slices for a total of 36 each, about same length as your cheese pieces.
6. Gently tuck one tomato slice into a piece of cheese.
7. Repeat, using all tomato and cheese pieces.
8. Beat 2 of the eggs lightly.
9. Place 1 cup of the bread crumbs in shallow dish.
10. In medium saucepan, heat oil to 350F.
11. Meanwhile, coat 18 of the nuggets; dip all 18 in egg, then coat with breadcrumbs.
12. Return nuggets to egg for a second round of coating and then to bread crumbs, tossing to cover completely with crumbs.
13. Repeat for remaining 18 nuggets, using remaining 2 eggs and 1 cup bread crumbs.
14. Beginning with the nuggets coated first, fry 5 or 6 in a batch for 1 minute, until golden brown.
15. Remove from oil with a slotted spoon.
16. Place on a paper towel lined baking sheet.
17. Keep warm in 200F oven while frying remaining nuggets.
18. Heat marinara sauce in microwave for 1 minute.
19. Serve nuggets with sauce for dipping.