Friday, September 27, 2013

FFWD Rice Pudding and Caramel Apples


Right now I'm working Monday through Wednesday, and staying at home with Charlotte the rest of the time.  Sundays are always fun, but exhausting.  I always try to spend as much time with her as possible, get us all ready for the week, and watch the Redskins game (luckily I don't have to waste my time with them anymore!).  My Sunday dinners aren't as complex as they used to be, but I still try to make something nice.  This week I made the Spinach Salad with Dates and Almonds from Jerusalem, sliced tomatoes, and the pudding.  Paul grilled corn and okra and made a chicken on his rotisserie.  We were hoping to have a nice quiet dinner, but we ended up taking turns eating with one hand while holding Charlotte with the other (a frequent occurrence).  I liked everything about this dinner (except for the okra which Paul turned into charcoal), but the pudding was my favorite part.  As I've mentioned before custards and puddings are probably my favorite dessert, and this was no exception.  I find the simple, clean flavors of rice pudding very comforting, but really loved the addition of apples and caramel.  We were both skeptical when I read Paul the description, but both pleasantly surprised at how well the flavors worked together.  I also loved how easy the caramel apples were.  This is definitely one I'll be making again.


16 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fantastic dinner (well, I think I would have passed on the okra!). Hubby doesn't like rice pudding, but the apples were wonderful on vanilla pudding :) Charlotte sounds like a typical baby..I remember a lot of eating one handed back in the day...

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  2. I'm sure there will be a time when you will miss taking turns and eating one handed. It looks like the caramel apples were a hit for everyone! (What's not to love)

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  3. Oooh, I love that salad! One of my favorite things I've cooked from Jerusalem, and one of my favorite salads ever. I haven't gotten around to the pudding yet, but I will. Congrats on your baby! I've been out of the loop for a while here, and missed the news.

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  4. It's was a great recipe and one I will be making again. I loved the apples:)

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  5. I am so glad you tried Ottolenghi's salad. Ei turned me on to it and I have made it several times. (I try to invent shortcuts with his recipes.) This rice pudding was a comfort food so was perfect for your meal. I preferred mine plain, however, and think carmel and apples should be together on a stick! It appears that you and Paul are getting this parent busines down pat. That one handed-thing - soon you'll be a Pro.

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  6. Your salad looks delicious! I remember the one handed eating days:) They go by so quickly, even though it doesn't seem like it when you're in the middle of them! We loved the rice too. And the caramel. And the apples. Good job all around!

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  7. Oh wow, a lovely dessert to go with that awesome meal!

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  8. I'm impressed with the complexity of your Sunday meal considering you have a newborn. I have yet to buy a Ottolenghi cookbook though I look at them everytime I am in a bookstore. Glad you enjoyed the pudding. Not my family's cup of tea.

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  9. I also love rice pudding. I also enjoyed the apples, trying to figure out what else I can do with them because they were unexpectedly simple.

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  10. Oh man, I remember those days...
    I am a rice pudding girl, for sure - I enjoyed using the Arborio.

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  11. I am thoroughly impressed that you are able to knock out such a lovely meal - including several new recipes- with that little one. Great job for sure. I recall the one handed meals and chuckle at the times when we all took turns with the baby when we ate out (NOT often at "fancy" places when they were young....but on occasions with grandparents and such). Great job and good luck with the schedule !

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  12. awww... we just left that phase behind awhile back. although we do the tag-team eating sometimes now, where one of us plays defence til the other is done and can finish their meal... it gets better! :) We leave our youngest in a bumbo between us and give her either a fork or spoon, plate full of food and bib to work things out for herself, and its going well. she's learned to pick her own grapes and pluck off anything she doesnt like, even roll stuff up to eat herself. its messy but she is happy and learning to help herself at an earlier age and can be content for an hour just feeding herself and only asks for help with getting a sip of water out of her cup since her hands are usually too slick... :) Good luck!

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  13. I finally got around to making this one, a year late. Your presentation is so pretty. I bet you and Paul are glad you're on to eating with both hands again!

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