Jul Grot (Recipe)

Ingredients

1 cup long-grain rice

1 teaspoon salt

2 quarts milk

2 2-inch pieces cinnamon stick

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

Ground cinnamon (optional)

Sugar (optional)

Raisins (optional)

Steps

1. Place the rice and salt in a heavy 3-quart saucepan.  Add 4 cups of the milk and cinnamon sticks.  Bring to boiling.  Reduce heat and cook over low heat, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon.  Gradually add the remaining milk.

2. Continue to cook about 30 minutes more or until the rice is tender.  Add the 1/2 cup sugar and cook 5 minutes more.

3. Remove the saucepan from the heat.  Remove the cinnamon sticks from the mixture and discard.  Add the butter and stir until it has melted.

4. Pour the pudding into a warm serving dish or individual dishes.  If desired, sprinkle with the ground cinnamon, sugar and raisins.

Tips:

For the best consistency, allow the pudding to stand about an hour before garnishing and serving.

Swedish tradition calls for adding a whole almond to the pudding.  Legend has it that the person who finds the almond in his or her serving will be married within a year.  Secretly slip in the almond just before serving the pudding and see what happens.

A garnish of whipped cream and fresh strawberries helps to give this dish a festive flair.  Or you may prefer to imitate the people of Finland and top it with a thickened fruit juice sauce.