Grandma Lizzy's Rice Pudding

Grandma Lizzy's Rice Pudding

On gloomy days like this, I love to cook.  I remember my grandma making sweet rice for us as kids and we were always ecstatic when she did.  She'd either make rice pudding or "little clouds" (Natillas).  Now that I am older and have proven to be a good cook to my Grandpa he has given me pots and kitchen items that were my grandmas, he says I know you'll use them.  For my birthday he gave me my grandma's wood pig cutting board and a bolillo I cried tears of joy, he could have given me a million dollars and and it would not have been as great as these gifts he's given me.   The pot you see in the pic was my grandmas she used it for many years and everything that came out of that pot was delicious!  Here's our recipe for Grandma Lizzy's Rice Pudding (Grandma Lizzy was my great grandmother who was an exceptional cook herself)  So go on, make some sweet rice sit and enjoy it with a little cup of cafecito and think of your grandmas and how hard they worked and cooked day in and day out teaching our Mamas how to cook so they in turn could teach us.    

Grandma Lizzy's Rice Pudding

1 can evaporated milk
1 c water
1 c sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbs. butter
2 eggs
2 1/2 c minute rice

Cook rice as directed on the box.  Meantime, combine milk, water, sugar, and vanilla in a pot.  Keep heat on medium to medium low, you don't want to scald the milk as it will taste bitter.  Mix well with a whisk.  In a small bowl separate eggs leaving only the egg whites but set the yolks aside don't throw them away!  Beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until they are stiff.  Continue to beat and add yolks until they are well incorporated.  Now here's the tricky part.  While beating the milk mixture very fast with a whisk add the beaten egg.  Be sure to put some muscle into it and beat the mixture rapidly while adding the egg otherwise you will have scrambled eggs in your rice pudding.  Add rice and butter, simmer on low for a couple of minutes and transfer the pudding to a glass bowl.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and let set for about half an hour.