BEN'S FIG RICE PUDDING

Named for 1 ½ year old godchild Ben, whose rowdiness is defused and silenced when armed with a spoon and a bowl of this in front of him.

INGREDIENTS

 3 cups sweet milk

1 tbsp butter

1 cup Delta Belle White Rice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp almond extract

3 tsp vanilla extract

¾ cup fresh figs, chopped, or ½ cup fig preserves, chopped

¼ tsp cinnamon, ground

½ cup honey

METHOD

     In medium sauce pan, melt butter. Add milk and bring to boil. Stir in salt, almond extract, vanilla extract, and rice. Cover with tight fitting lid, and reduce to simmer.
In 15 minutes, stir rice and replace lid.
In 15 minutes (30 minutes into procedure, stir rice and check for doneness (should be soft)). Mixture should be becoming thick. If so, blend in heated honey (can microwave for 30 seconds), figs, and cinnamon, replace lid, and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove lid and stir. Mixture should be just thick enough hot to stay on spoon.
Garnish with a fig, and serve warm or chilled.