couple of questions...

[dfunk98]

i've been trying to make some of the foods we normally buy ready-made and things have been going well. yielding some yummy results!! i just have a few questions about it all...

*anyone have a really good, nutritious rice pudding recipe? ds loves it, but i want one that's "good" for him, tasty and nutrient dense, since he's not the greatest eater.
*i've started making yogurt. it comes out really good, but dh only eats "junky" yogurt (think trix yogurt ) i want to make him some fruit yogurt, but it needs to be smooth, no chunks. any suggestions?
*lastly, how do you all save money when making bread? i've been making 1-2 loaves a week and it's definitely somewhat cheaper than buying bread at the store, and definitely better for us. but i was wondering if any of you purchase your flours, gluten, etc. in bulk and where? i'd love to see a bigger difference in the savings.

tia!!

[lil_earthmomma]

Question #1: Healthy rice pudding:

1/2 gallon milk
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup uncooked rice
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
ground cinnamon to taste

DIRECTIONS
1.In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine 1/2 gallon milk, sugar and rice. Simmer, covered, 1 hour, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and let rest 10 minutes.
2.In a small bowl, combine eggs, cream, salt and vanilla. Stir into rice mixture and return pot to low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Pour into a 9x13 inch dish and cover with plastic wrap, folding back the corners to allow the steam to escape.
3.When pudding has cooled to room temperature, remove plastic wrap and sprinkle surface of pudding with cinnamon. Cover tightly (with fresh wrap) and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight before serving.

To make it super duper healthy and just incredibly yummy, I make it with pearl barley instead of rice. More fiber etc. and really awesome texture and taste!

It's a great recipe because there's hardly any sugar for how much rice pudding it makes, and it tastes so incredible. It's even better with really vanilla pods, but I can't afford those.

Question #2: yogurt with no chunks

Seedless jam mixed with homemade yogurt would be easiest. You can make a "jam" by just cooking down fruit/berries and straining the seeds and then adding a little corn starch and allowing to boil and thicken. Then just spoon a couple tbsp into the bottom of your containers and pour yogurt on top.

Question #3 I can't help with. I save so much money by baking my own bread because I live in a tiny village and the cheapest loaf of crappy disgusting bread is $4. : I just wait till my store has case lot sales and buy huge bags of flour at 1/4 of the cost.

[dfunk98]

thanks, lil_earthmomma!! i'm going to try that recipe.

anyone else care to weigh in?

[wholewheatchick]

This rice pudding you don't need cream for, and it's pretty quick to make:
2 1/4 c. milk (any fat content)
3 T honey, maple syrup, or 1/4 c. brown sugar
3 T cornstarch or 6 T flour
2 eggs, well beaten, in a medium bowl
1 T vanilla
1 1/2 c. cooked rice
nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins, etc. as desired

Heat 1 1/2 c. milk and sweetener to simmer in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Mix remaining milk and cornstarch together in a small bowl; stir into hot milk. Stir constantly over medium heat until thickened and starting to boil, about 2 - 3 minutes.
Add about half the mixture to the eggs. Add that mixture back into the pan and stir over low heat for 1 - 2 minutes. Stir in rice and add ins. Serve warm or cold. :

As for the bread: a bunch of women I know grind their own wheat and swear by it. I just buy my flours in bulk from the food co-op.

[mamadelbosque]

Can either of these two recipes be made with brown rice?? I haven't had rice pudding in a long time, but I think DS would really like it for a nice treat every now and then!!

Oh and we grind our own wheatberries to make bread - I buy the wheat berries in bulk from my co-op (so they're a little less than $1 a pound).

[WC_hapamama]

Originally Posted by mamadelbosque

Can either of these two recipes be made with brown rice?? I haven't had rice pudding in a long time, but I think DS would really like it for a nice treat every now and then!!

In all honesty, I wouldn't. Brown rice gets a funky texture when it's cold.