April 16, 2010

Arroz Con Leche (Spanish Rice Pudding)...and a CHIC BABY GIVEWAY!


This picture......you might be too focused on the gooey, creamy, snowy, dreamy, cozy rice pudding. Yes the more you look at it, the more likely you will fall from your barstools. When I was eating it in the office, the wonderful aroma lured one of my co-workers over, then she jokingly asked me if I had taken my baby's food. Yes, I made it for Ethan who is at the stage NOT into eating pasty food anymore. Now you ask, "Isn't rice pudding a classic pasty food?" I know it is. But when I came across with this recipe. I simply couldn't help but regretted that I didn't make it sooner for him. He LOVED it! And I loved it too! 

Now, just move your eyeballs a little to that red thing. That pretty, chic, hip KitchenAid cast iron casserole.

It was my third attempt before I successfully bought it for just CAD$29.99 (Original: CAD$99.99). I have to admit though I was not working hard enough for the first two attempts. Did they have too limited quantity? Did people get too crazy that they carved out the shelf within the first 5 seconds the shop opened? Did I not pay good attention to what "special deal" was about? This time, I asked my husband to aim the closest shop, be there right after the shop opened, and we got to buy the last one on shelf.

As much as I've longed for owning one of these cookware, I have to say this casserole is HEAVY! So heavy that you might not want to put it in the overhead cabinet as you'd lose your balance taking it out. Do not put it in the lower drawer neither cause you'd get your back hurt bowing down to take it out. Just put it on your stove top and cook everything with it as the dashing design will fashion up your kitchen, and even yourself as a cook.

Now, you could have it delivered to your doorstep without worrying when the special deal comes again, and how early you should get your husband to go there and prepare to fight his way for it. Yes, I'm giving away one of these overweight babies. If you are from North America, and you have some wonderful NON-pasty baby food to share, let me know by April 19 noon (PST) and you get a chance to take this baby home!

(serves 4 - 6)
Ingredients:
1 cup long-grain white rice
2 cinnamon sticks, or 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 strips of orange zest
3 whole cloves or a tiny pinch of ground cloves
4 cups water
1 egg
1 cup whole milk
2 cups coconut milk
1 (12-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Soak the rice, cinnamon sticks, orange zest and whole or powdered cloves in the water in a heavy saucepan for 1 hour.

After soaking, bring the rice mixture to a boil on high heat, uncovered. When it starts to boil (about 5 mins), lower the heat to medium and cook for 10 to 12 more mins or until water is almost evaporated.

While rice is cooking, beat the egg in a bowl. Add the whole milk and coconut milk and stir well to mix. Add the egg mixture, condensed milk, salt and vanilla extract to the rice and cook over medium-low heat, stirring carefully, until it thickens slightly or until you have the desired consistency, about 25 to 35 mins.

Remove orange zest and cinnamon sticks. Let cool slightly, serve warm or cold after chilling it in the fridge.

30 comments:

Belinda @zomppa said...

Because it's you, I know this has to be good!

Fresh Local and Best said...

This sounds delicious!!! I like the addition of orange zest and sweet spices, it must give such wonderful nuances.

Shamrocks and Shenanigans said...

Yum! My Gram used to make this! But I remember her putting raisin in it..I am sure of it!
http://shamrockandshenanigans.blogspot.com/2010/04/rocking-corn.html

ann low said...

Mmm...sounds yummy with the zest and spices added!

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

amazing description, I want to try it and not one of my favorite desserts, you make it mouth watering!

Unknown said...

I must admit, this takes me years back when I was very young. Thinking about eating something very similar that my mom used to make, closing my eyes, I can smell the aromas. It's very comforting.

Christo Gonzales said...

non pasty baby food huh? let see, how about a delicious tofu and banana smoothie - it worked for my kid!

theUngourmet said...

I'd love to try this! I really like the coconut milk and orange zest in here! Yum!

Brie: Le Grand Fromage said...

ooo, looks delicious!

for the giveaway, i remember taking yogurt, mango, and dried apricots and making them into a puree for my siblings when they were infants. we loved mango!

bunkycooks said...

You make this sound so good!

It has been a long time ago, but I would always grind up regular food (not spicy) for my kids. I did basic meats, veggies and potato type stuff.

Angie said...

That looks so good, I have some baby food recipes on my site, all I just fed my son till about a year, then I just processed whatever we were eating, but just til he got his 1st molars in, then he had to eat the same as us.

Evelyne @ CheapEthnicEatz said...

I love rice pudding, ever since I was a kid. This one looks awesome.

For the give away...my mother never made stuff..always bought. But I remember up to a couple of years ago I bought occasionally the blueberry dessert ones for myself..as an adult hehe.

Anonymous said...

The rice pudding looks and sounds heavenly! Great giveaway!

Marlene Marie said...

I love rice pudding, I can't wait to try it! This is a recipe I made for my babe years ago. She loved it.

Fruit & Cheese

1/2 cup of large-curd cottage cheese
4-6 tablespoons orange juice
1/2 cup fresh fruit, cooked or raw

Combine all ingredients and blend quickly. Allow to cool and serve.

Phong said...

Spanish rice pudding is so good!

And for the giveaway, you can try blending peas and bananas together.

Alyssa said...

Mmm rice pudding :)

For the baby food, I would actually leave out mango. It's a member of the nut family and a slightly more common allergen than most fruits. The same goes for strawberries.

As a kid, my sister loved beets - we just steamed them and threw em in the blender. Perfect :) To sweeten them a little bit you can also add apple sauce or another fruit juice.

Alyssa

Becky Lyn said...

Oh my it looks so delicious!

My baby is 16 now but I remember plum sauce of sorts, like apple sauce but with plums and a touch of cinnamon... oh my gosh it was so wonderful! and good on vanilla ice cream as well.

Memória said...

I don't know much about baby food, but I know that I would love this dish!!

Your rice pudding looks so enticing. I've been make this dish but have been putting it off for too long.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Zak said...

Apparently I always loved ground up meat and potatoes, basically done in food processor. Definitely not pastey.

My mom was a hippie and huge health nut, so I pretty much got ground up versions of whatever my parents were eating that night. It was all organic, and she had some special blender thing to do it, but I would think you could just use a food processor.

Topher said...

I definitely could use it. We have a lack of cooking dishes here.

Thanks for the giveaway.

Chris

zekks at yahoo dot com

Lauren said...

Keep it simple while working in fresh produce at the same time! Blending fresh fruits with yogurt OR fresh vegetables with boiled potatoes.

Sudha said...

Wow,this looks terrific!Specially the creamy and smooth texture looks so inviting...must taste awesome.I am totally a dessert freak and this had me fall in love with desserts all over again:)

Puppydogs said...

OMG this looks wonderful. I use lemon peel (3 slices) in my rice pudding and never thought of using orange zest....ingenious!

I can not wait to try this!

Marlis said...

I spoiled my first born with gourmet homecooked, organic babyfood. Her favorite was rice/chicken with spinach and seasoned with a tad rosemary, pepper and salted butter. the only problem was traveling... she refused to eat any commerically available baby food. I am proud to say that even as a 10 year old she has a very grown up taste :)

Now I have to try this rice pudding of yours. It sounds divine!!!

Dixie said...

My mom said that when I was a baby, she had to be creative with protein because I would not eat any kind of meat. One of my favorites (not that I remember!) was refried beans blended with rice and tomatoes.

Karla said...

How about butternut squash puree, yogurt blended with fruit, or refried beans? Congee, too, but I guess that might be a little pasty to some.

Thanks for having this giveaway!


splitpeasoup AT mail DOT com

Cynthia said...

This looks delicious! I can almost smell it....yum...

I saw a recipe in a baby food book where you cook chicken and carrots in chicken broth until tender and cooked. Then blend it together until almost smooth, with a few small chunks of carrots and chicken still visible.

ailad said...

For my son I made a soup with chicken, potatoes, white beans and carrots (then pureed it) that he loved. For the grown up version we would just add some sausage! I still make it from time to time and he even loves the unpureed version now!

Kathaleeny said...

Little bits of avocado - vitamins on a spoon.

Frieda Loves Bread said...

Rice pudding....haven't had this in years....gotta try it! btw, this is a great giveaway!