A Recipe for this Foggy Day (and for my Father)
May 3, 2016
Yesterday was my father’s birthday, and I found myself thinking about him for much of the day. He would have been 116 years old, he’s been gone for more than 35 years, and yet not a day goes by that I don’t miss him.
As solace I made his favorite dessert. He loved this rice pudding, and I imagined him sitting across the table, reveling in the flavor as he watched the hawks outside hovering, almost motionless, in the air.
Longchamps Rice Pudding with Raisins
¾ cup long grain basmati rice, washed and drained
½ cup raisins
1 quart whole milk
¾ cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
4 egg yolks
1 cup heavy cream, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla
zest of 1 lemon
sprinkling of ground cinnamon
Preheat over to 425 degrees.
Wash the rice in a bowl filled with water. Stir the rice with your fingers then pour out the water and repeat the process until the water runs clear.
Bring the rice to a boil with 3 cups of water, lower to a simmer, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain
Meanwhile, cover the raisins with water in a small saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and set aside.
Stir the milk, sugar, and salt into the drained rice. Bring to a boil then reduce to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently with a wooden spoon for 25 minutes until the mixture is the consistency of a thick porridge. Remove from the heat.
Whisk the egg yolks with ½ cup cream. Temper the eggs by stirring 1 cup of the rice mixture into the egg mixture, then pouring it slowly back into the saucepan with the rice, stirring, until the mixture is thoroughly blended.
Add the lemon zest, raisins, and vanilla, blending thoroughly. Pour the pudding into an 8”x 8” baking pan and let cool for 5 minutes until the top is firm.
Whip the remaining ½ cup cream until stiff and spread it evenly over the top of the rice pudding. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake for 10 minutes until the cinnamon browns slightly and the pudding is bubbling around the edges.
I’m guessing Dad was about 25 when this picture was taken.
Categorised in: Uncategorized
9 Comments
Ruth, this post resonated with me as I miss my father, who died 10 years ago, every day and love to make his favorite foods from time to time. (Your father was very handsome!)
Ruth, a sweet pudding to try and a sweet story. You father looks quite elegant.
Ruth, your story really resonated with me too. It will be eight years at the end of this month that I lost my father, and I miss him so much every day also! There is just something about the connection between a father and his daughter/girl – and I was my father’s baby girl – that cannot really be explained. My Dad loved rice pudding too, although I have to admit that I am not really a fan. But thank you for sharing this touching and bittersweet memory with us. Peace, Patti
To make a loved one’s favorite food as a loving reminder of them, makes us feel warm and nurturing…maybe that’s why they call it “comfort food”.
Ruth
How interesting that you posted this today about your father.. Today, May 3rd, is the 54th anniversary of my father’s death. He would have been 113. I savor the memories, truly treasure them, and miss him so much. I do not remember what his favorite dessert was, as you do about yours. I do know that he liked to come home from work and prepare his own dinner, as he worked rather late, making what he referred to as “concoctions”. Once, for a present, I bought him one of those food choppers that they used to sell on 14th Street, and he just loved it. ( or, at least,he pretended to).
In honor of both of our wonderful fathers, I think I will make that rice pudding that yours loved so much. I do not know if mine loved rice pudding, but I sure do. I will think about both of them, with love, as I make it.
I also miss my dad
He always took us to Longchamps restaurant
My mom died in November and her birthday is next week, frequently fell on Mother’s Day. My husband and I have decided to cook our mother’s and grandmother’s recipes for the month in their honor.
Bitter sweet.
Lovely post, Ruth!
Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I totally relate….❤️