Rice Pudding from “Traditional Puddings” by Unknown

Yes, I know, choosing rice pudding to review a cook book is different. It is something from my childhood and memories of it can be good, bad or indifferent.

Rice Pudding is something I avoided since I left home. My father loved rice pudding but as he was a diabetic the sweetener used always made the pudding taste slightly bitter.

Rice pudding is considered old fashioned unless it is revised to include fruit, jelly, jam, meringue or avocado (for all I know). But why should be fashionable? My main interest is if it tastes good.

Harper loves rice pudding. So, as I needed to review another cookbook, this one was chosen and I deferred to Harper’s wishes (for a change).

Melting butter has become quick and easy due to microwave ovens. Measuring the sugar and rice as very simple as was warming the milk, though of course it had to be watched so it did not boil but simple enough and then stirring it to dissolve the sugar and mix with the rice was again very easy.

The most difficult part was grating half of the whole nutmeg. Next time I would grate it over a plate to make sure the distribution was a little more even.

After putting it in the oven, I confess I was distracted by something or other and was only reminded to check the pudding due to the timer chiming.

Harper was in the kitchen, awaiting the removal of the pudding and immediately claimed a serve, unadorned by any additional items and insisted I have a taste.

Unfortunatley I did not photograph the final product but it did look something like this, whithout the artistic effect of the used nutmeg grater.

I tried it and reversed my opinion of rice pudding. This recipe was good and Harper ate it happily and requested the book be retained while hinting heavily that it should be made regularly.

As the book contains a lovely and possibly simple version of a golden syrup pudding, Tate au Citron etc, I am willing to bestow it a place on the bookshelf. (By now it should be apparent, I have a sweet tooth.)

Traditional Pudding be glad that you are not expelled and do not need to attend remedial classes.

In Search of: Gramma Pie (Grandma’s)

 

When talking to a sibling, we often fondly reminisce about food from out childhood, the Lemon Pudding Cake, Melting Moments, Jamdrops, Christmas puddings, Flummery and one childhood memory of a pie we only tried once and never forgot.

I was reminded of this pie when shopping for vegetables and a different type of pumpkin was for sale.  A Gramma pumpkin.  Startled, (I am ashamed to admit this), it reminded me of the name of the pie that lived on in my memory because as a child I thought the pie was called Grandma Pie because she had created it, or Grammar Pie, because she did like us to speak and write correctly.  On impulse I bought some of the Gramma pumpkin and went home intent on finding a recipe and attempting to recreate the pie from my childhood.

In Search of: Lemon Pudding Cake (Grandma’s Recipe) Version Five

This cake was unplanned and the product of a need for cake (cake addiction is not a recognised addiction as yet) and trying to consume groceries before the use by date.  There seems to be a fine balance between having ingredients on hand in case inspiration strikes and they are needed and/or using them within the time period while they are still fresh and not expired.

In Search of: Lemon Pudding Cake as made by my Grandmother for my birthday – Version 3

The third of the attempts to replicate the best Lemon Pudding Cake I’ve tasted.

Source: http://www.amykayskitchen.com/moist-lemon-bundt-cake/

In Search Of: Grandma’s Lemon Pudding Birthday Cake, Version 2.

The second of the attempts to replicate the cake my grandmother made.

Unfortunately it seems most of the supermarkets in my general area do not stock lemon pudding mix, instead it is only possible to obtain vanilla pudding.  While this is not perfect, if the consistency of the cake is okay, it may be possible to adjust the flavours and make up for the lack of lemon within the pudding mix.

Random Recipes: Ham and Leek Pie and Ice Cream Christmas Pudding from “Family Circle: Tastes of Christmas”

After the complications of the last random recipes, it was a relief that this book was selected by the normal/unplanned method.  While it is not Christmas, in Australia we often celebrate Christmas in July by eating food that are traditionally associated with Christmas such as roasts.  This is mainly because heavy meals are not always welcome in the heat of Summer. (Yes, it is August but July was busy).  This in yet another book which has a place on the book shelf, no matter the result of this trial.  One day the Champagne Jellies will set! (I keep trying but perhaps the amount of gelatine needs to be increased.)