Cold Weather, Warm Kitchen

In the oddity that is weather, today, April 20th we have had rain, hail, crazy winds and now it is 46 degrees, although weather.com says it feels like 40 degrees. This is the normal weather for February, not the end of April.  This is the kind of crazy weather that calls out for one thing, hot rice pudding.  Lunch at work today was take-out Chinese with a side of extra white rice. Warm, rich, soft and sweet, yes, this is the perfect day for rice pudding.  Yum!

2 cups leftover plain white rice

2/3 cup milk +1 cup of milk or Soymilk

2 tablespoons warm water

1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1 tablespoons vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, split

1 tablespoons cinnamon

1 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar or Splenda

1 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon

In a large pot, add the water, 1 cup milk, cream, and sugar and heat at medium. Stirring occasionally, add the rice and the cinnamon. Turn the heat to low and cover for  10 minutes or until most of the milk has been absorbed. Add the vanilla and extra milk with sugar to taste, stir for 1 minute.  Take the rice pudding off the heat and add the raisins, stir and cover for 2-3 minutes. Serve with fresh strawberries. Yum!

If the rice is very dry, try soaking it in milk for 10 - 15 minutes before cooking.