Eating Dessert First

Tonight at a church dinner the pastor talked very briefly about living without worry, because what's going to happen is going to happen and worrying doesn't do anyone any good.  If we live like each day is our last, we will live with gratitude and appreciate every day.  When he said that nobody knows when a big change might come (even if it is 2012), a man near me turned to a few of us and said, "Well.  All the more reason to eat dessert first".  

All I have to say to that is: Amen.

So, in the spirit of living in the moment I'm encouraging you to make this dessert tonight... and eat it first!  My mom gave this recipe several gold stars, and even though we may not see eye-to-eye on everything, we totally agree on how amazing it is.  And a tip: please, please use real milk and cream.  Just do.  Life is short, after all :)

This is a crappy picture.  Do not judge the recipe on my picture.  I was too impatient to eat it to take a better one!

Vanilla Rice Pudding

adapted from Erica Lea, via Tasty Kitchen

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1 1/2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup sugar

1 vanilla bean

Put rice, milk, cream, and sugar in a saucepan.  Scrape seeds out of vanilla bean and add.  Also throw in the pod.  Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until rice is cooked and liquid is mostly absorbed, about 25 minutes.  Serve in bowls with a little more cream over the top.  Enjoy!