Rice Pudding

 

Rice Pudding is not something I remember as a child. Tim's mother, however, made it frequently, and he has fond memories of comforting bowls of this creamy and not-too-sweet mixture. Tim's mom shared her recipe with me many years ago. The paper she wrote it on is stained and creased. The piece of stationery she used had this on the bottom:

"Let all your things 

Be done with love"

What a good motto for any endeavour, but especially so for cooking.

Rice Pudding

1/3 cup rice (use white, converted, or arborio) I used the latter this time

3 Tablespoons sugar

pinch of salt

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg (or cinnamon)

2 1/2 cups milk

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon butter

In a saucepan, combine the rice, sugar, salt, nutmeg, and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then lower the heat to a low simmer. Half-cover (I prop a lid sideways on the pot, or use a wooden spoon), and cook for 20-30 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Beat egg in a bowl and add a bit of the cooked mixture to it - it should still be fairly liquid. Stir the egg into the pot and cook for several minutes until thick. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla. 

Note:  This recipe makes enough for two or three servings. When the children were at home, I always doubled or even tripled it. It's good cold or warm. 

Unbaked Cheesecake

 

I considered some of the things in my pantry over the weekend, and decided to make an Unbaked Cheesecake with a Raspberry Sauce. Some graham wafers were getting past their best date, and I'm using up the fruit in the freezer before the new crop comes. 

This is such a quick and easy dessert; one that I prefer to a baked cheesecake because it's so much lighter. 

Unbaked Cheesecake

1 1/4 cups graham wafer crumbs

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup melted butter

Combine the above ingredients and press into the bottom of an 8 x 8 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Let cool completely.

1 - 8 ounce package of cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 cup icing sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup of whipping cream, whipped to soft peaks

Beat cream cheese and icing sugar together. Add vanilla. Fold in whipping cream. Spread mixture over cooled crust. Chill for several hours. 

To serve, make a sauce with any fruit, or use a can of cherry or blueberry pie filling.