Maryann's Awesome Rice Pudding

One of my all time favorite comfort foods is rice pudding.  I had been begging my friend Maryann for her rice pudding recipe for a long time.  She finally was nice enough to share it with me, she is such a sweetheart.  She makes the best rice pudding around, no one beats her recipe!  It is very easy to make on the stove top, made in one saucepan, and no baking at all.  It is so rich and creamy, you could eat the whole pan in one sitting, I almost did.  Recipe below.

Rice and water measured out for the start of something really good!

Cook the rice according to the package directions for the amount you are cooking.

 Drain any remaining water, and the rest of the ingredients.

Sweetened Condensed Milk is the key to creamy rice pudding.  Mix all the ingredients with the rice.

Beat the eggs and add Vanilla...

I also added some fresh nutmeg.  Her recipe did not call for it, but I like the flavor of it in rice pudding.  Continue to stir as everything is melting together in the saucepan.

It is starting to thicken up and get creamy.

 Cooled off and served up - YUMMY!! Brings back memories of my childhood.

Maryann's Rice Pudding

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of white rice

1 cup of sugar

1 stick of butter, cut into 8 pieces

3 cups of whole milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, more if you like

1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, omit if you don't like

2 tablespoons vanilla

Directions

In a large saucepan cook the rice according to package directions for the amount you are cooking.  When the rice is cooked, drain in a small hole colander and return to the same saucepan.  Add the sugar, butter, whole milk, sweetened condensed milk, beaten eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.  Stir to combine.  Cook over medium heat, stirring as it cooks so it does not stick to the pan.  Continue to cook just until it comes to a boil.  Turn off the heat and remove from the burner.  Cool, then pour into a 9 x 13 baking dish, cover and refrigerate.  Serve with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

NOTE:  You could use evaporated milk in this recipe.  If you do use it, increase the sugar amount by 1/2 cup  (the recipe will have 1 1/2 cups of sugar instead of 1 cup).  

Go For The Sale!

We have a new Target in town, so the hubby and I went to check it out last week.   I found a few cute things on sale, who can resist a sale.  Among some of the things I found were these boots, adorable flats in a color I do not have, a pair of earrings and a scarf.  We really went in for the nice cotton men's T-shirts they had on sale for $4.00 each, we did get those among some other things we purchased.  Nice things and reasonably priced.

Cognac Moto Calf Boots - $17.98

 Cognac Ballet Flat - $16.99

 Blue Rhinestone Earrings - $3.98 & Red Polka Dot Fringed Scarf - $5.00

Quick Brother Devil Shrimp (Shrimp Fra Diavolo)

Was cooking dinner for just the hubby and me the other night, and wanted to make something fast and easy, so Shrimp Fra Diavolo was on the menu.  It's football season and the TV was on, so every woman knows what that means, dinner in front of the big screen.  I didn't mind though, I can bear watching football, although most of the plays I don't even understand.  So while I was busy getting our meal together the hubby was busy putting up TV tables, and setting our places.

I usually make my Fra Diavolo sauce from scratch, but this jarred version caught my eye at Giant, so I decided to give it a try.  It tastes exactly like the Shrimp Fra Diavolo at my local favorite Italian restaurant.  I have to say I was not disappointed in this jarred sauce at all.   Knowing this is on the shelf at the grocery store makes me wonder why I even make it from scratch. Recipe below.

Dinner was ready in about 30 minutes.  I added garlic bread, fresh grated Locatelli cheese, and a glass of red wine.

 Shrimp Fra Diavolo

1- 25 oz jar of Fra Diavolo Sauce
10 Jumbo sized frozen raw shrimp, thawed, shells on
1/2 lb linguine
Freshly grated Locatelli or Parmesan cheese


On high heat, start a pot of salted water on the stove and bring to a boil.  In another small pot, filled halfway with water, add the raw shrimp, and cook over medium-high heat until the shrimp are done, about 2-3 minutes or until they are pink. In the meantime, heat the jar of sauce in a medium size sauce pan over medium - low heat.

When the water for the pasta comes to a boil, add the pasta and stir.  Continue to cook to your likeness, I like mine al dente.  When the shrimp are done, drain, peel, set them aside.  When the pasta is done, drain and transfer to a serving bowl.  Combine the shrimp with the sauce, heat the shrimp through for a few minutes, then toss with the pasta. Top with grated cheese and serve.  Makes 2 servings.

The Tops

I added these two tops, that I have had my eye on, to my wardrobe recently.  The one on the right is really a cobalt blue it looks darker than that in this picture, I don't think the lighting in my closet was all that good when I photographed it.  I don't have anything in my closet that is this color, and I needed to add it.  I am never drawn to shades of blue when purchasing clothing, I don't know why.  I thought I would add this color, to see how it looks with a a lot of other pieces I already have.  The draped neckline is ideal for long and short necklaces or earrings, and the length is perfect for belting.  The fit on this top is great, I can't wait for the cooler weather to wear it.

I adore leopard print and think every woman should have at least one piece of clothing, or one accessory, in leopard print in her wardrobe.  This blouse on the left feels like silk, but costs much less.  It has an elongated neckline and a collar that can be left up, or folded down if you like.  This blouse is also perfect for wearing with leggings because it lays right to the hips.  Throw on a jacket and you're done with three easy pieces.  This is also perfect for all the colors of Fall, it will go with orange, red, green, black, brown, tan, jeans and many other colors.  Dress it up or dress it down, it will always look great!  Both of these pieces were purchased at Dressbarn, with you guessed it, COUPONS!  I don't leave home without them, why pay full price when you don't have too. 

Accessorize to Maximize

I love accessories, they dress up anything that is plain.  Just adding one accessory will change a whole outfit.  Whether it's a belt, pair of earrings, scarf, necklace or bracelet, it will put the "jazz" into anything you are wearing.

     Off White and Snakeskin Stretch Belt - $7.99, Dressbarn

Gold Leopard Earrings - $8.00, Dressbarn

 Glen Plaid Fringed Scarf - $16.00, Dressbarn

Black and White Polka Dot Infinity Scarf - $7.99, Ross

The Flats

Picked up these along the way on my retail therapy trip.  All on sale, of course, and I had coupons for 15% off all of them.

Light Grey Sueded Scalloped Edge With Stitch Detail - Payless

Houndstooth Print Skimmers - Payless

 Walkers - Payless

These are so comfortable and they just slip on like slippers!  They are very light too, feels like you have nothing on your feet. Payless had them in black and a light tan print.

Retail Therapy For Me!

So my youngest is gone for the school year, she left for Paris last Wednesday.  A lot of tears shed at home, on the ride to the airport, and at the airport.  I've been recuperating since then, that's why there hasn't been a blog.  They say give your children wings and they will fly, I did, but now I am sad that she is gone.  I know she will do very well, and I am happy about that.  She has already sent pictures, of her and friends, drinking champagne by the Seine.  I should be drinking the champagne! I am the one with all the stress of her leaving.  So to de-stress my world, I treated myself to a few new things.  After all, I have been saving all year for her to have the time of her life.

A few of the pieces I purchased for Fall and Winter.  All were on sale and I had coupons, you can't beat that.

Oatmeal Heathered Drape Sweater - Ross

Bittersweet Waist Buckle Sweater - Dressbarn

 Navy Faux Leather Jacket with Zipper Detail - Dressbarn

The pocket detail and the color is what drew me to this jacket.  It is very hard to find anything in navy blue.