TWD - Arborio Rice Pudding - Black or White

Isabelle of Les gourmandises d’Isa by Isabelle chose the Arborio Rice Pudding for this week's baking challenge. I love rice pudding so I could not wait to make this. Thanks Isabelle for a great choice!

After going to three different grocery stores looking for arborio rice, I finally found it. It was in a beautiful jar and was $5.99. I didn't care about the cost because I actually had the rice in my hand and was on my way to making my pudding. After getting home with it and checking out the recipe and seeing that only 1/4 cup was used I was like - what am I going to do with all this rice I bought! Oh well, I'm sure I'll find a use for good risotto rice at some point and I have this lovely jar to boot!
It took forever to cook. Thank goodness for all the comments left by fellow TWDers and even Dorie herself saying the timing was off in the recipe. By the time it was done, for just one second I was actually thinking minute rice would have worked, right? Don't slap me, I was tired from our kitchen renovation which is still in process. When this is over I never want to look upon a piece of tile flooring again or anything that resembles grout.

My back aches. My wrist hurts. I'm grumpy. I know it will be worth it though so I am hanging in there. Seriously, could you cook in this disaster zone? Maybe next week I will be able to post "finished" photo results!

I thought the rice pudding was so wonderful in the vanilla flavor that it needed nothing more. I did add a sprinkle of cinnamon to one dish of it. And I hid an almond inside one just for fun. Somehow I ended up with three small bowls of pudding instead of four. Maybe we are just big eaters, but this did not make a huge amount and I will double the recipe next time!

I think of rice pudding as a comfort food but in literature it is sometimes referred to as plain, cheap, or familiar. I even remember something Charles Dickens wrote relating an incident where a schoolboy was given shabby treatment with rice pudding as a pretended treat. I have never thought of rice pudding in those terms! I think it can be a positively elegant finish to an extraordinary meal!

Added history: In Europe, rice pudding with goat's milk was first used by the Romans for medicinal purposes. For this reason, the first written records of rice pudding occur in medical texts. All I know is it sure makes me feel good!

We really enjoyed it. It was smooth and rich and sweet and I will definitely make it again when I have the time!

Word of advice: Don't waste your wonderful pudding like this man did. . . .

Madcap comic Vic Reeves will not face charges after allegedly attacking a photographer with a tin of rice pudding.
Police have told the comic that there will be no further action after the alleged incident at his mansion in Aldington, Kent.
The comedian - real name Jim Moir - was said to have hurled the tin at a freelance photographer who had been waiting at his gate to take a picture.

Comments

Danielle said…
Yours turned out very nice. I cant wait to see your kitchen when its all done!
I am not a huge fan of rice pudding so I skipped this Tuesday's event.
Audrey said…
This was my first rice pudding and it was a challenge, wasn't it? Your presentation is wonderful! (And do you like risotto? - for the other 5 3/4 cups of arborio?)
Laura said…
Oh, I so wish I had read those comments first! Your pudding looks tres elegant in that martini glass. If you've never made risotto, you're in for a treat - you may never turn back to plain white rice again :-)
Sabrina said…
It looks very nice.
I hope your kitchen gets done soon... :)
Jamie said…
I am so glad you enjoyed this, it looks great!
Nancy/n.o.e said…
Your construction chaos will be totally worth it, and will fade (in time!) in your memory as you enjoy the beautiful result. In the meantime, you have rice pudding to make you feel better! I only got 3 dinky bowls also. Tasty though.
Nancy
Nancy/n.o.e said…
me again :)
I can find Cozy Shack at Publix here in Atlanta, so you might find it over there (check the refrigerator case or the deli case). It's great when you want a pudding fix and don't have 10 + 55 minutes to stand and stir!
Nancy
Cathy said…
I can't believe that you and Amanda could not find risotto! I have fits finding all kinds of things around here, but I've never had trouble with risotto before. Your pudding looks FABULOUS, Peggy!!! Plus, you get extra credit for making it in a half torn up kitchen (your countertops look beautiful!). I know you can't wait for it to be done. Nice job on the pudding! Too bad this is another one that can't easily be shared :-)
Amanda said…
Yum, Peggy. It looks so pretty in the martini glasses. The kitchen looks great!! I can't wait to see it completely finished.
Teanna DiMicco said…
Love that last photo of your rice pudding "up" ;) And I almost used minute rice as well! Would that have been cheating?? haha ;)
Anonymous said…
I liked it too. I think we'er in the minority here.
chocolatechic said…
Love the martini picture.
Anonymous said…
Looks good! I like the martini glasses.
Marthe said…
Yours look great, but as I don't really like rice pudding I decided to do a rewind: I'm making the brioche-raisin-snail-thingies :)

P.S check out my blog for my first giveaway!
AmyRuth said…
I loved your historical slant on rice pudding. Thanks for sharing with us. Isn't the internet wonderful. Although you may have actually read in a "book" OMgoodness. I actually loved also. I think a percentage of the TWD population thought not so much. Good luck moving toward the "prize." Looks like you are almost there. Keep posting photos. Fun to see. Thanks for stopping by
AmyRuth
Anne said…
Your pudding looks great! The background info is awesome and the photographer story is too funny. Nice job!
Tammy said…
you will have to make some risotto with the rest of your rice. I love the jar it came in!
Matt's Kitchen said…
Just visualize how wonderful it will be to have your kitchen finally done...

Your rice pudding looks like the answer to your frustrations. By the way, I can't imagine ever getting frustrated enough to throw a tin of rice pudding at someone. I would have stopped to eat it first...
Pamela said…
I almost bought the same container of rice as you, but then I found a cheaper box in the Goya section. I have never tried making risotto, though. But now that there is left over rice, I'm sure I will. Glad you enjoyed it!
I can't wait to see your finished kitchen! Your rice pudding looks great! Risotto or lots more rice pudding the rest of the year? :)
Unknown said…
Love the pudding in the martini glass - it can be an elegant dessert. I would have made more, myself - on the other hand, we probably didn't need to eat any more pudding this week!
I love your martini glass. What a cool idea. Looking forward to finished kitchen photos!
Di said…
I hope your kitchen is finished soon! I can't wait to see pictures when it is. I'm glad you enjoyed this week's recipe.
Linda said…
Hang in there with your re-model...can totally relate, as I went thru a one a couple of years back that lasted 10 months. Nice job on your rice pudding!
Annette said…
I love the idea of serving it in a martini glass. Definitely elegant! Yours looks great. I liked it too.

Popular posts from this blog

Ina Garten's Deviled Eggs!

TWD - Steph’s Bakewell Tart

TWD - Brown Sugar Bundt Cake