In the Kitchen: Rice Pudding with Dried Apricots

Food Writer and Cooking Instructor, Adrienne Kane ( www.nosheteria.com ), was in the kitchen demonstrating her recipe for Rice Pudding with Dried Apricots.  This is a perfect dessert for wintertime, warm, comforting, sweet and flavored with dried apricots to give you a little glimpse of summertime.

Rice Pudding with Dried Apricots

1 cup water

½ cup short-grain rice

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

1/3 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup heavy cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

½ cup + 2 tablespoons sugar

2 eggs

grating of nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter an 8-inch square pan, or a large soufflé dish.

In a medium-size saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the rice and the salt. Cover the pan, and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the milk and the apricots, cover, and continue to simmer for 10-15 minutes. The rice should be tender, but will not have absorbed all the liquid.

In a small bowl, whisk the cream, vanilla, sugar, and eggs. Add the egg mixture to the rice, stirring to blend. Pour this mixture into the baking dish, grate nutmeg on top, and place in the oven.

Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until the pudding is bubbly and firm. Serve warm or at room temperature.