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Ris ala mande-Danish Christmas Rice Pudding

Servings: 6-8
Comments:
"My husband Kenny (who is British), lived in Copenhagen, Denmark for several years. After we married (in Copenhagen) we lived in Denmark for a year or so more. At Christmas time, our Danish friend John would always make this traditional Danish Christmas Rice Pudding (or as they call it in Denmark, Ris ala mande) and bring it to our house for our Christmas dinner dessert. There is one whole almond hidden in the pudding, and whoever gets the pudding with the whole almond is said to expect good luck, and also receives an extra Christmas gift. It is a tradition not to reveal who has the almond until all the pudding has been eaten.".........Diana


Ingredients:
1 (1/4 oz.) envelope unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons cold water
4 cups milk
1 cup short-grain white rice, or arborio rice, uncooked
7 tablespoons granulated sugar
a dash of salt
1 cup heavy cream, for whipping
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup blanched almonds, chopped
1 whole almond

Garnish
Ground cinnamon
Sliced or slivered almonds
Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce (see recipe below) or use one (1) can Cherry Pie Filling


Instructions:
Place 3 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over water. Let stand 3 minutes to soften gelatin. Warm mixture in microwave until gelatin dissolves, about 30 seconds.

Meanwhile, place 2 cups of the milk and the rice in a medium saucepan. Stir over moderate heat until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Stir in the dissolved gelatin, then the remaining 2 cups of milk, the dash of salt and the sugar.

Transfer the rice mixture to a large bowl. Freeze until mixture is cold and thickens but does is not set, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.

Whip the cream and vanilla until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the rice mixture. Fold in the 1/2 cup chopped almonds, and the one (1) whole almond. Place in a serving bowl and chill in rerigerator.

When ready to serve, spoon Ris ala mande into individual dessert bowls, and if desired, sprinkle a little ground cinnamon or nutmeg and sliced or slivered almonds over the top of each individual bowl and serve with Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce or a spoonful of canned cherry pie filling. Refrigerate any left-over pudding.

Homemade Bing Cherry Sauce

Ingredients:
1 can (17 oz.) Pitted Bing Cherries
3-4 tbsp. granulated sugar
2 tbsp. cornstarch
Dash of salt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 tsp. almond extract or almond flavoring, optional
Water, to add to Bing Cherry liquid from can

Instructions:
Drain can of pitted bing cherries. Reserve liquid. Pour liquid (that you drained and reserved from can) into a medium saucepan, and add enough water to liquid to make 1 1/2 cups. Cook on medium heat, adding sugar, cornstarch, and a dash of salt. Cook and stir mixture until thickened and clear. Add the cherries, the lemon juice, and if desired, 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Pour sauce over individual servings of the Ris ala mande.

Note: Very Important!
Don't forget to put the 1 whole almond in the pudding.

TIP
The Ris ala mande can also be done in a dessert ring mold if desired.

Makes 6-8 servings.

Photograph taken by Diana Baker Woodall© 2002


Source: DianasDesserts.com
Date: September 28, 2002