Brown Rice Puddin'

I always feel the need to include the disclaimer, if you are looking for old fashioned rice pudding, this is not exactly it!  It's a clean option and an easy dessert (and a great way to use left over brown rice.)  With the stomach bug going around this house lately, this was another comfort food that I recreated.  The texture is not as creamy as traditional white rice and there's a nutty  flavor to it.  However, it got applause from the men folk so I'm going to call it a keeper.  Recipe my own after surfing the net and not finding anything that suited my purposes and ingredients on hand.

Ingredients

• 3 cups prepared brown rice
• 3 cups milk
• 1 tea spoon vanilla or almond extract
• 1 tea spoon lemon peel (I used dried, didn't feel like zesting)
• 3Table spoons brown sugar OR for clean-eating pure maple syrup, molasses, honey, Agave or natural sweetener of your choice.
• 1 Table spoon cinnamon

Technique

• Bring 3 cups of milk gently to just boiling
• Add prepared brown rice and stir to combine
• Reduce heat to low and add remaining ingredients
• Cook on low for approximately 45 minutes, keep an eye on it an stir often
• Remove from heat & enjoy!

Tips

• Add whatever sweetening ingredient in small increments until it suits you.
• If you want to avoid added sugars, add apples or applesauce
• Try a dash of pumpkin pie spice
• Serve warm or cold
• Top with (homemade) whipped cream or ice cream