Hey! I missed it!

This is my 201st post! You'd think I'd be more on it huh? WRONG. Oh well.

I have been up since 5am. I had to let the dogs out. Pickles sometimes has to go you know? And he lets me know by standing by the door and mooping. Very quietly, but still. Mooping. Or squeaking. Anyways I can usually fall back asleep but not today. Today I was tantalised by the thoughts of rice pudding. I guess that's what happens when you go to bed hungry huh?

Rice Pudding

4 cups of milk. I use skm cause thats what I buy.
1/2 c arborio rice. You know, risotto rice.
a few tbsp of sugar (I use splenda)
half a vanilla bean. Go on, even Safeway has them.
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract, cinnamon to taste.

Put your milk, rice and sugar/splenda in a heavy bottomed pot. Split your vanilla bean in half, and slit along the length to let out all the vanilla goodness. Scrape it out into the milk, and toss the whole thing in. Bring your mixture to a gentle boil and turn down to a nice simmer. Stir this. Alot. Don't go sit down and read the internets and let the bottom scorch. No, keep stirring. For like 30-40 min intermittently. You'll know the rice is done by tasting it. Arborio rice holds a lot of moisture and still retains its shape. Like risotto. Get it?

I like mine a little on the wet-ish side as I find if its dry, it doesn't keep in the fridge as well. And its creamier that way. Anyways, when it's done cooking, take off the heat and add the vanilla extract and cinnamon. I make this not that sweet on purpose, so you can sweeten it to your taste. The first batch I made I used 1/4 c splenda and I found it too sweet. The vanilla bean seems to add a lot of sweetness for me, but you know what you like so adjust accordingly. Store the leftovers in the fridge and reheat or don't. yum.

I eat this for breakfast, for afters, for fun. Seriously, its good for you! A nice big serving of calcium, some rice? All kinds of goodness.

My parents are in Hawaii right now. Not covered in slush and getting stuck in front of the house. I hope they are having a fabulous time.



I seem to have a case of the January blahs. So do the dogs. See ^. I have a whole bunch of stuff to put up, write up and photograph. Lets see how long it takes to get through it. Maybe I just need more coffee...