Monday, November 17, 2008

TWD: If You're Gonna Be My Rice Pudding, It Don't Matter If You're Black or White


My excitement over this week's TWD recipe could be summed up by the sound of crickets chirping. I actually like rice pudding, but...you know, when I feel like indulging in dessert, I don't know that rice should be involved. Gobs of frosting and pounds of chocolate? Yes. A grain typically served as a side dish to stir-fry? I wasn't really feeling it.

But of course, this is the part where I admit how silly my reluctance was, and how much I liked the rice pudding. Because seriously, this pudding hit all the right spots. The sugar spot, the warm creamy spot, the gooey comfort dessert spot...yep, knocked 'em all out. So add this to my ever-growing "TWD Recipes I Doubted But Shouldn't Have" list.

Can you believe I'd never made rice pudding before? I'm just not a big rice eater--I don't hate it, but I don't crave it either. My mom used to make rice pudding with leftover rice when I was growing up--she'd make a simple custard, mix it with the cooked rice and bake the whole thing like a casserole. Since this was the only rice pudding I knew, I wasn't sure what to expect from this recipe, which called for parboiled arborio rice to be simmered with lots of whole milk and a bit of sugar and vanilla. [As many people discovered this week, the stated simmer time of 30 minutes is way too short. Mine cooked for almost 50 and was perfect.]

The rice pudding turned out to be ultra-rich and creamy, and the rice was deliciously soft while retaining a little bit of its texture. The basic recipe produced a vanilla pudding, but Dorie provided a chocolate variation. I decided to do half and half, so I made a whole batch of vanilla, then added some bittersweet chocolate to half of the pudding.


Ready to be shocked? I actually liked the vanilla variation better! I KNOW! I didn't quite believe it either. But the chocolate pudding was so rich, it overpowered the rice and made me feel like I was eating a disturbingly chunky chocolate pudding. I might try it again using less chocolate, but I'm more likely to stick with the vanilla version, and maybe add a little lemon zest. The whipped cream was a nice addition for the photos, but I don't think the pudding needed any accompaniment in the taste department.

I had a great time making the striped chocolate cigarettes for the photos, too. I used a method similar to the one in this video, and just used regular white and dark chocolate--didn't even bother tempering it, although that's probably advisable. I also didn't have a marble slab, so I used the bottom of a well-chilled metal baking sheet and it worked like a charm. Since I have a bunch of extra striped cigars now, I guess I'll just have to make another batch of black and white rice pudding. It's sad, but what are you going to do?

23 comments:

  1. Rice pudding was something that my grandma allways did and I love it! It's not something I do much either, but I really do love it. I've also made it with dark chocolate before and it's delicious. I like your yin yang thing!

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  2. Yours turned out very nice. I love the different ways you had the pudding the the dish.
    I am not a huge fan of rice pudding so I skipped this Tuesday's event.

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  3. OK, color me impressed by the two variations of pudding and the CIGARS! And I agree; the vanilla was better than the chocolate. A rice pudding convert - yay!!
    Nancy

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  4. Anonymous7:39 AM

    I love all of your different variations on the presentation! They all have my mouth watering!!!

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  5. Anonymous8:29 AM

    That title is soooooo wrong. ;)

    Love the cigars.

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  6. Anonymous8:46 AM

    I'm more of a vanilla rice pudding fan myself. This was a fun entry, I like the cute photos :D.

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  7. Good gosh, your pudding looks perfect -- and I am seriously awed by your chocolate striped cigarettes! I'm glad that this surpassed your expectations. And the title of your post completely owns me.

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  8. Just like you I wasn't feeling the rice pudding, so I decided to do a rewind. I'm making the brioche-raisin-snail-things that were made before I joined.... :)

    P.S did you already see my first giveaway?

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  9. I absolutely love all the photos you took of this - wonderful play on the black or white theme. Fabulous.

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  10. Anonymous1:20 PM

    Your rice pudding looks perfectly creamy and yummy. I like your chocolate cigarrettes too. Great job! (especially on something you were meh about)>

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  11. What? How could you like the vanilla version better? I demand a recount! Actually, I only made vanilla and was wishing I made choco. It wasn't that good, huh?

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  12. Ying and yang theme. Nice work.

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  13. Lovely job! What fun to have both flavors! I had to make mine chocolate, but I enjoyed it that way!

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  14. You did a beautiful job! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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  15. The ying and yang presentation is great!

    I dig your chocolate cigarettes!

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  16. Love your puddings! They look great and I love the presentation in the ying and yang formation!

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  17. You are so cool with your striped chocolate cigarettes! What fabulous presention! I agree w. you about the chocolate one - something about the texture combined with the taste was a little weird, even though the actual taste was good.

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  18. Anonymous12:59 PM

    Unfortunately, this recipe didn't change my mind but yours looks great. I am glad it converted someone.

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  19. Beautifully done! I liked the vanilla version better too!

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  20. I love your cigarettes...and don't worry those are the only kind I love!! You did an amazing job with this one!

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  21. Anonymous11:37 PM

    the only cigars I'd smoke! right up muh lane! gorgeous puddings that look so thick and porridgy but I'm sure tasted great!

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  22. love your very Art Deco choco cig's! Those are tops! I'll have to watch the video-thanks for sharing. Glad you liked the pudding. i liked your presentation ....very nice with great photos. Happy Thanksgiving. AmyRuth

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  23. Anonymous9:12 AM

    The recipes is really testy and yummy.

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