Rice Pudding

Ten years ago my mom gave me a Nesco 6qt. Roaster. When that thing died I felt like we should have had a funeral, along with the mixer that died the same year. They'd survived 10 years of kids, cooking, almost daily usage. They were family members! I really did feel like giving them a headstone:

Here lies Roaster and Mixer
Died 2008 (in a great ball of fire and smoke)
They served honorably

For some reason, the now stained, wrinkled, water splashed, and bits of food stuck to it manual found its way to the trash, as if I didn't need those recipes any longer. For 4 years I have been searching for the book/manual online, in old boxes, in cupboards. Yesterday, I finally found it! Some awesome soul had a PDF Nesco Roaster manual!! For free! Online!!

I made the beloved rice pudding. We used to have it for special breakfasts and desserts, it was almost a staple in our house. Yesterday I made it and it was just as heavenly as we had always remembered it. Here is a slightly modified recipe I would like to share with you (and also, in case I ever loose the printed copy, I know it will live in infamy forever here), Rice Pudding

2 cans evaporated milk
2 cans water
1 c. long grain rice
2/3 c. sugar
4 T. butter
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. grated orange peel (or one small orange peel grated)
2 t. vanilla
2 c. raisins or dried cranberries (we prefer the cranberries). The manual suggests fresh raspberries. We have had it with fresh strawberries or frozen mixed fruit as well
Whipped cream

I tried this in the rice cooker and it took 20 minutes plus some cool down time. Pour all ingredients into pan, (unless you are using fresh fruit or frozen fruit, save that for serving) stir a bit, set on white rice to cook. When the timer goes off, open the lid and let it cool down for about 15 minutes. Serve with whipped cream and fresh fruit. I have also cooked this on the stove (after the Nesco met an untimely demise), and since replacing the Nesco with the huge roaster, unless I was making enough for reception, I never attempted it in the big roaster. I also read you could start this at bedtime in a crockpot and have it ready in the morning too.

This recipe also calls for 2 eggs added, but since Ammon had dumped and busted all my eggs the day before, I didn't have any to add. If you choose to add eggs, beat them well and add them with the milk and rice. I notice this adds a yellowish, curdled look to the rice, but still pretty tasty!