rice pudding

burnt milk all over the stove top was really not how i anticipated starting this day.

i've had a craving for rice pudding for a little while now, and since i'm often up before the husband these days, it's fun to make something for breakfast to surprise him with.  (note: burnt milk smell through the house is not a "fun" surprise...).  so this morning i started looking up recipes, came across one that sounded the most like how my momma used to make it, and went to work.

do you ever watch the show kitchen nightmares?  that's what this simple recipe felt like this morning.  a comedy of errors, if you will.  but i did learn a few things:

kitchen rule #1 - don't ever turn your back on milk on the stove.  ever.  milk loves to scald and boil over but it will only do it if your back is turned.

kitchen rule #2 - stop trying to multitask at 7:30 in the morning (especially if you are already stricken with baby brain).  calm down and focus on one thing at a time.  and enjoy the peace that can bring!

kitchen rule #3 - just follow the stupid recipe.  substituting dried apricots because you have no raisins may sound like a good idea, but it might not work the way you planned (in this case, i added them while the rice was cooking so they'd rehydrate.  what actually happened was some curdled-like reaction with the milk so my pudding looks like the bottom of a garbage can with slimy apricot bits.  yum).

kitchen rule #4 - laugh.  it's no use ruining a perfectly good sunny day just because i ruined a perfectly good pot of rice pudding.  get out the granola, take a shower, and try again another time.  life is more than burnt milk and spoiled breakfast surprises.  thank God for that!!


for those of you brave enough, here's the recipe:

Rice Pudding - from Joy of Baking
cook time: 30-45mins

2 1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup rice
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup raisins (or other dried fruit, if you dare)

in a small saucepan, bring the rice and milk to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 25 minutes, or until the rice is tender.  remove from heat and add sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.  return to heat and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the pudding thickens.  chill (if desired), stir in raisins and serve.