For Good Luck in 2014, Try Baked Brown Rice Pudding

Baked Rice Pudding Brings Good Luck

The theme this month for recipe Redux is “Good Luck Foods.” We were asked what we will be serving to get the New Year started with a little luck? For some, it might be it black eyed peas and greens, or Chinese noodles or even a special family recipe. For me, it is pudding. Yes, pudding.  Many years ago when I was doing my dietetic internship in Minneapolis, I was invited to a friend’s house for New Year’s. This family was of Swedish descent. Their tradition was to serve a large bowl of rice pudding and the person who got the whole almond in their bowl was the bearer of good luck for the year. I was the one who got the almond. I don’t remember of my following year was especially lucky, but I have never forgotten that prize.

 

I have learned since then that many cultures, in addition to Sweden, treasure almonds as a symbol of good luck, good health and good fortune. One story I read said that the person who finds the almond is said to get married in the coming year. That didn’t happen to me.

 

Here is the recipe for Baked Brown Rice Pudding.

Inspiration for this recipe came from: All Recipes. Made with some modifications, mainly using brown rice for white rice.

 

Ingredients:

 

Non-stick cooking spray

2 large eggs, beaten

3-1/2 cups 1% milk

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup uncooked jasmine brown rice

1 tablespoon light butter, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon almond extract

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 whole almond

 

Directions:

 

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray 2-quart baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

 

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and milk. Stir in sugar, rice, butter, extracts, and nutmeg. Pour into prepared pan. Stir in one almond.

 

Bake for 2 to 2-1/2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes during the first hour.

 

Makes  6 servings.

 

Nutrition Information per Serving:

216 calories, 4 g total fat, 2 g saturated fat, 69 mg cholesterol, g dietary fiber, 8 g protein, and 102 mg sodium. One serving of this low cost recipe provides an excellent source of riboflavin and vitamin D and a good source of protein, vitamin B-12, and calcium.

 

Cost per Serving: $0.50

Pricing Note: all ingredients were at “regular” prices.

Click here to download and print a copy of this recipe.

Be sure to check out these other “good luck” foods from fellow Recipe Reduxers.