Rice Cereal (or Rice Pudding)

When I was a little girl, my mom would make this on a regular basis. This dish reminds me of my childhood and is warm and comforting. I love it that my kids are crazy about it now. I think a lot of people associate it with dessert, but we always had it for breakfast. I really love it for a late night snack when the kids are in bed. I tell myself it's so it will be ready for breakfast in the morning, but really it's just an excuse to savor a bit on my own before it's devoured by the kids.

Sharing this recipe really feels like I'm giving you a little part of my heart. If you like it, please tell me! If you don't- I usually would want that feed back as well, but on this one, I don't need to know. ;)

I'm not even sure what my mom's recipe is, but this is my version, and I think it's very similar. She would usually make it in a pot on the stove, but when I make it I usually use the oven, or my very favorite way- the rice cooker!! I never knew the wonderful world of having a rice cooker until a year or so ago. Now I use it for so many things! Other than just regular rice, I use it most in the mornings for hot breakfast cereals. Oatmeal, cornmeal, grits, it's awesome. I just toss the ingredients in there, go wake up the kids and it's ready to eat when everyone is dressed. 

This is the brand I have- it just has a few more buttons. (below)

Rice Cereal (or Rice Pudding)

7 cups water

3 3/4 cups rice

2 eggs

3 cups milk plus 1/2 cup

1 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup raisins

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Here is the beauty of this recipe. Whisk together the 2 eggs in a little bowl. Then you put all of this in the rice cooker (except 3 cups milk). Give it a quick short stir. Turn on your rice cooker and put it on the "white rice" setting. When it's finished, stir a little bit more to incorporate everything and add the 3 cups of milk. So easy!! Sometimes I get a little heavy handed on the sugar when I'm going fast, and the kids are always very happy about that.

Some of my kids like it more milky than others, so you can definitely add more milk. If you like it with a little bit of cinnamon or nutmeg, those are really tasty additions as well. My kids like it best just as it is. I hope you love it as much as I do!!

*If I cook it in the oven, I always pre-cook the rice. It's a great way to use up leftovers (especially if you've had stir fry or Hawaiian Haystacks for dinner and have a lot of rice leftover). So pour everything on top of the cooked rice (except for the rice, water and 3 cups of milk), stir it around and bake it for 30-40 minutes until egg is completely cooked. When there are no more slimy eggs in there, take it out of the oven and add the 3 cups of milk.