Rice-Custard Pudding

Sweet, silky and fragrant with vanilla, this rice-custard pudding is the very definition of comfort food.

And, for me, even more so. This was one of my favorite desserts from childhood. Whenever my mom made it, I would sneak to the refrigerator for a "taste."

As much as I loved this dessert as a kid, it had been years since I enjoyed it last. Then my birthday arrived. We weren't celebrating on my actual birthday because of family commitments. And, really, who wants to celebrate on a Wednesday night? Since it was my birthday, I decided I wanted to make myself something special for dessert.

As I thought about it, I mentally rejected several dessert options. Cake? We'd have it on Sunday night at my party. Cookies? Didn't feel festive enough. Pie? See cookies.

Then I thought about Rice Custard Pudding. Oh my goodness! How could I have forgotten about my beloved childhood dessert? I asked my mom for the recipe. After making a few changes (I didn't like how the original recipe made the custard.) I popped the custard into the oven right before dinner.

When dinner was over, my husband and I enjoyed warm rice-custard pudding. Heaven! Happy birthday to me! . . . (to read the remainder of this article, please log in below.)