#1 Slow Cooker Rice Pudding

The first recipe I decided to try was one that I found in the Sept. 2012 issue of Woman's Day magazine.  It looked like a very simple recipe and the photograph included in the magazine made the dish look scrumptious.  The name of the recipe:  Slow Cooker Rice Pudding.

Rice pudding is not something I have every tried, that I remember anyway, until recently.  One of my friends and co-workers, Mr. Cliff Redes, always brings homemade rice pudding to the many potlucks that we have at work.  I've always avoided it, even at every one's insistence that his is the best.  Honestly, it just didn't every look very appetizing.  Well, one day this past spring, I finally broke down and tried it.  And, oh my God . . . . . . . it was simply one of the best desserts (yep, I think Rice Pudding is a dessert, although I have since come to learn that many consider it a breakfast dish, too.)  I was hooked!  At the next event that Mr. Redes brought his "to die for" dish, I swear I ate more than half of the entire casserole dish filled with the yummy concoction all by myself!  I couldn't get enough of it!

Sooooo . . . .  when I saw this recipe, I thought . . . . this is the one to start with! 

Well, my first attempt was so-so.  First, I made a mistake right from the start that I think affected the consistency of the pudding.  I was suppose to set the slow cooker on high and cook the mixture until "slightly thickened" 2-3 hours.  My mistake?  The slow cooker started off on low.  In my defense, it's a brand new cooker, and I thought I set it for high, but I guess not.  So, about 45 minutes in, I realized my mistake and moved it to high.  But, I think the mistake was made enough to affect the dish because it didn't turn out as creamy as Rice Pudding King Rede's rice pudding is.

But, even though it wasn't the consistency I would like, it still was yummy.  In fact, with the added strawberries and hazelnut-chocolate spread drizzled over it--quite yummy!

So, overall, I was pleased with the dish, but would definitely like to try it again, this time cooking it the right way from the beginning.  I'd like to see if that makes a difference or not.  My rice pudding doesn't come close to King Rede's rice pudding, but I'm going to keep trying!

The recipe:  14-oz can sweetened condensed milk, 5 cups whole milk, 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 2 Tbsp hazelnut-chocolate spread, sliced strawberries.  In a 5-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together the s.c. milk and whole milk. Stir in rice. Cook, covered, until the rice is tender and the mixture has slightly thickened, 2-3 hours on high. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Drizzle the hazelnut-chocolate spread over the rice pudding. Spoon into bowls and top with strawberries.