Whole Grain Rice Pudding is the perfect down-home dessert for these cold winter months, if you like your rice pudding warm like I do! Here’s a simple way to make a healthy treat:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of whole grain brown rice
• 2 cups of water
• 4 cups of milk (organic is preferred)
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 2 T of coconut oil
• 1/2 cup of sucanat (or another natural sweetener)
• Sprinkling of cinnamon

Directions:

Mix water and rice in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil.  Let boil for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Drain the rice, and mix milk and rice in the same saucepan.  Bring to a near boil, reduce heat to low and cover.  Simmer for about an hour, stirring occasionally so that the rice doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.  Don’t open and stir it too often!

Remove from heat and add in your vanilla extract, coconut oil and sucanat.  The pudding should be thickened up and nice and creamy at this point.  Serve with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top.  Serves 6-7.  If your pudding is too dry, stir in a little fresh milk and it will be nice and creamy!