I hate throwing food away. So when 3 of my pears got a little overripe, I peeled them, sliced them into a measuring cup, and just tossed away the bruised bits and the core. I got about 1 cup of chunks, but another half a cup or more would have been really nice. As it is, the pears are understated, just a hint of flavor. This is my own recipe. I’ve made rice pudding over the years, but modified this one to suit the ingredients in my fridge.
Take 1 1/2 c. of cooked, leftover rice. Add 1 c. of milk, 1-3 tablespoons of sugar (go with how sweet you want it), 1/4 tsp of salt, and a couple of shakes of allspice, cook it over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Add the pear, cooking for another 5 minutes, squashing with the wooden spoon.
Add 1 beaten egg and another 1/2 cup of milk, and stir well for another 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and add 1 tsp of vanilla and 1 tbsp of butter (optional). Mix well and let sit. It will thicken as it cools. As it cools, taste it and add more allspice as you require. You can always add more spice, so add sparingly and taste often.
Enjoy!
