Golden Nuggets - Cajun Country Rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups Cajun Country Medium Grain Rice, (cooked stickier than normal (1 cup rice, 2.5 cup water, 1 tsp. salt))
• .5 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• .5 lb ground breakfast sausage, (browned and drained)
• 2 mozzarella string cheese sticks, (cubed into 18 pieces)
• 2 eggs, (whisked in bowl for coating)
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs in bowl for coating
• vegetable oil for frying
• marinara for dipping ((recipe to follow))
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 small cans Contadina tomato paste
• 1 can stewed tomatoes, (diced)
• .5 cup finely chopped onions
• 2 tbsp finely chopped celery
• 1 tbsp finely chopped bell pepper
• 1 tsp basil
• .25 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 2 whole bay leaves
• .5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp creole seasoning
• 2 cups water