Scrummy Sundays: Rice Puddings!

Sunday is by far my favourite day of the week, especially when I'm at home in the countryside. Nothing is open (in the country anyway) so you don't feel guilty for staying in all day and, particularly in the winter, it's a perfect excuse to make something yummy and curl up with the pup in front of the fire. And today's yummy treat came in the form of rice pudding! Not the old school food kind but my kind - creamy and delish. I have 5 people in my family and conveniently we all like ours differently so here's how I make mine three different ways: Plain, with jam and (my personal favourite obviously) with raisins and RUM!

1. If you're making with raisins and run soak 80g raisins in 2 tablespoons of dark for about 20 mins.
2. Boil 100g of white basmati rice and half a teaspoon of salt in about 350 ml of water for about 8 or 9 mins.
3. Stir in 100g of granulated sugar, 500ml of milk and 200ml of single (or double if you're feeling fancy!) to the rice. I know it seems like A LOT of liquid but it'll boil down. Simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring often.
4. When the liquid is almost gone and the rice is super soft, stir in 1 beaten egg and cook for another minute.
5. Take the pan of the heat and add 1 and a half teaspoons of vanilla extract.

You can serve it plain like that (how my dad likes it, with a pinch of cinnamon)...












Or school dinner style with a spoon of strawberry (my brothers' personal preference) jam...

Or you can serve it the way my mother and I (and all other women I've asked) prefer it. After leaving the raisins to soak, pour them in the pudding with any left over rum and heat for another 2 minutes. Perfect for a winter eve :)