Arroz con Leche

Each year, the Girl Scouts celebrate "Thinking Day."  This is when all Girl Scouts are supposed to think about their sister scouts all around the world and consider how things are different for girls in different countries and cultures.  Each troop is expected to put together a tri-fold board with facts and photos about their country, create "SWAPS" to represent their country, and prepare a food or beverage that would be typical to that country's diet, and present it all at the Service Unit's Thinking Day celebration.  This year, our troop presented Costa Rica.

The dish we prepared was Arroz con Leche - rice with milk - basically Costa Rican rice pudding.  We found it so delicious, that it is now a regular recipe in our house.  It is very simple, but beware!  This recipe makes enough to feed a large crowd.

2 cups rice
4 cups milk
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 ounces butter
1 cup raisins

In a large saucepan, cook the rice in 8 cups water for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.  (Bring to a boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer.  I salted the water.)  Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer for 1/2 hour.  I find this is best served warm.

See?  Easy!  Now invite all your friends over and give this a try!