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If you ask me what my very favourite thing is I would not hesitate to say my family. I came into motherhood quite late on, and was immediately overwhelmed with how amazing it is. Now I would like nothing more than to be a Domestic Goddess, and surround my family in love, good food, beautiful things and lots of happy memories. And like the majority of families these days, we need to do it on a budget!

I firmly believe we all have a little bit of the Domestic Goddess inside us, just waiting to break out. Whether that is knowing how to make a roast chicken feed a family of 4 for a week, being able to make, repair or recycle clothes, hunting down a bargain, or simply turning everyday, simple things into pretty or useful items, with a little bit of imagination we can all dip in to the Goddess inside and make our lives that little bit more interesting.



I hope you enjoy reading my blog as much as I enjoy sharing my (challenging) journey into Domestic Goddessness!



Sunday, November 6, 2011

Like mother, like daughter!


I love this picture. This is my mum baking raisin biscuits with the Flop last week. It reminds me so much of my Saturday afternoons with my grandma (my mum's mum actually) We would be pretty much doing the same thing - I would be standing on a stool, and she would be baking with me. Not biscuits though, my gran was the Queen of Cakes. I loved baking with my grandma, and it makes me really happy to see history repeating itself, with my daughter baking with her grandma.

I hope everyone had a good time with the fireworks over the weekend. We certainly did. We spent a lovely afternoon and evening with the family.The food consisted of home made french onion soup made by my sister in law Catherine (It truly is the best onion soup I have ever had, I love it!) lots of little cakes made by the children (Well, children is a loose description, since 2 of those children are 18 now!) and my contribution was an oven baked rice pudding, which certainly went down well. So well, in fact, that I didn't get any despite making double quantities!

I really don't think there are any better rice puddings out there than a home made, oven baked one. It beats those tinned ones hands down. My own version is not as soupy as most, in fact it is more like a slice of pudding than a spoonful! But that's the way I like it, and that's the way it is enjoyed in my family. Blame my mother!

So my contribution to Handmade Monday this week is a simple recipe for the best rice pudding you will ever taste.
You need a large ovenproof dish with a lid, a casserole dish is perfect, lightly grease the sides of the dish with butter (and none of this margarine rubbish, this is not a pud for the faint hearted, or those on diets!). Put the oven on at about 160 C.
In the dish put about 2oz of pudding rice - that's the small round rice, 1oz of sugar, 1 pint of full fat milk, and ground nutmeg. Give it a stir, put the lid on, put it in the oven and leave it alone for about 2 hours. You can leave it longer, just make sure it doesn't dry out or become too thick. if it does, add more milk
If, like me, you don't want a soupy pudding, add a little more rice (I add about a handful extra.) You can also add single cream, replacing some of the milk to make up to a pint. I usually finish it off with a bit more cream or milk just stirred in right at the end. Try it, I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Don't forget to see what everyone else has been up to over on Wendy's blog!

Til next time!

24 comments:

Caroline Lovis (Redneedle) said...

Yes I can see why you love the pic, it's lovely doing things with your own children that you remember doing as a child isn't it? Sounds like you had fun and your rice pud was obviously very well received, thanks for posting the recipe.

Wendy said...

It's lovely how grandmas do creative things with children - my grandma used to sew with me. The recipe sounds yummy.

Carolee Crafts said...

Love rice pudding, good old comfort food

Unknown said...

That picture is going to be really treasured when your daughter gets older. Will be trying out the rice pud later this week :)

Your Friend Susie said...

First, love the image of your daughter and her Grandmother! I didn't get to spend much time with mine as we lived far away until I was a teenager, but my boys spend a lot of time with my Mom and it was wonderful that they did. I think it's so important for families to do that if they can. :)
And I AM giong to try the rice pudding recipe, THANK YOU. I can't have wheat so I'm always after good things I can eat. :)

Penny said...

Love proper rice pud, real comfort food!

lovetartan said...

Thanks so much for the recipe! :)Mich

Martha said...

I love rice pudding! yummy! thank you for sharing the recipe with us. worth trying out!
love the baking photo! :) love baking too! such fun and there is always something nice to nibble at. baking together is even a greater fun than baking on your own :)

Unknown said...

I love the pic it is nice to see your warm memories being relived by your children.
The rice pudding recipe sounds gorgeous, just as a rice pudding should be.

stylesofcooking said...

My grandma didnt bake with me but did let me loose in her kitchen! I half remember something about custard powder and gravy powder being mixed with water and served as a cup of tea for her!
Love the recipe, will be trying that one. Love rice pudding and you are right you cant beat homemade!

Jam Dalory said...

I haven't had homemade rice pudding for years, my mum used to make it when I was little. Just seeing the recipe brings back memories. Nothing better than a hot homemade pudding in the winter.
The photo of your mum and your little one is so sweet, it oozes warmth and love. x

Donna Mosley said...

Aww! a very lovely photo Helen.

Donna x

cj- catmumdo said...

oooh rice pudding. Haven't had that in ages, might just have to give it a try :)

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

A lovelyy pic Helen and a great recipe. I love rice pudding - really like the nutmeg flavour in it, just adds something extra

Rachel said...

Helen I just adore that photo. Really made me smile :)

Pickle Lily said...

Both the men in my life love rice pudding so thank-you for sharing. Guess what's for pudding tonight!
Jo x

Jan said...

Homemade rice pudding is lovely, and like you we like ours thick rather than soupy. I like to throw in dried fruit and sprinkle nutmeg or cinnamon on the top. Mmmmm
I love the photo, my children (now in their 30's)often talk about their cooking exploits with their Nan.

Jan x

Mrs A. said...

Mmmmmmm. I can almoast taste it alrerady. Sure sounds nice. Hubby likes a rice pudding so may give this recipe my best shot. Thanks for sharing. Hugs Mrs A.

itsamistry said...

AWW that's me and my niece we bake cakes together. Your rice pudding recipe seems so easy I'm going to have a go thanks for sharing your recipe.

Carol said...

A lovely pic for your album. Take it from me, in the years to come when she has her own family and comes across that photo she will have such pleasure in explaining it to her children, I know I did.

June said...

What a lovely 'family' type week you've had. The recipe is just how my mum used to make rice pudding ... takes a trip down memory lane ....

Handbags by Helen said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe. I used to hate rice pudding as a kid - I think my mum defaulted to it whenever she didn't know what to cook so we seemed to have it every week. But I love it now!

Little Harriet said...

Lovely picture, you'll have to get it enlarged and put in a frame :)
My dad loves rice pudding, I think I will have to make this as a treat for him. Thanks for the recipe.

LH
x

fatmonica said...

I was only saying the same to my bundle of fun who asked why I don't cook with him.I was reminded about cooking sessions with my gran and we now have cooking scheduled for the weekend!