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Arroz con Leche is the ultimate in Mexican comfort food. Creamy and delicious with a hint of cinnamon, this Mexican rice pudding is a warm and comforting hug in a mug.



How to Make Mexican Arroz con Leche - lacocinadeleslie.com

Classic Mexican Arroz con Leche 

Arroz con Leche is another of those traditional Mexican dishes that takes me back to my childhood. I don't think there was a week that Pappy didn't whip up a huge olla (pot) of Arroz con Leche. Pappy was of the belief that Arroz con Leche was the caldo de pollo (chicken soup) of desserts, in that it could cure just about anything. And he was always looking for an excuse to make this creamy deliciousness: birthdays, rainy days, holidays, Tuesdays, sick days, and any day ending in the letters "s" or "o". (The days of the week in Spanish end in either "s" or "o": lunes, martes, miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado y domingo.)

How to Make Traditional Mexican Arroz con Leche 

Every family has their own unique recipe for Arroz con Leche. Today I'm sharing the classic version, made with just rice, water, milk, cinnamon, sugar, and raisins, if you like them. There are other versions of Arroz con Leche that also include sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk, which I'll be sharing soon, but today it's all about the traditional arroz con leche like our abuelitos (grandparents) and favorite tías (aunts) used to make. 


Traditional Mexican Arroz con Leche recipe - lacocinadeleslie.com


Yield: 8 servings

Arroz con Leche

Arroz con Leche is the ultimate in Mexican comfort food. Creamy and delicious, this Mexican rice pudding is a warm and comforting hug in a mug.+-w
prep time: 5 MINScook time: 60 MINStotal time: 65 mins

ingredients:


  • 1 cup long-grain rice 
  • 4 cups water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt 
  • 1 (3-inch cinnamon stick) 
  • 4 cups whole milk 
  • 1/2 to 1 cup granulated sugar 
  • 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional) 
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch (optional) 
  • 3 tablespoons whole milk (optional) 

instructions


  1. Bring rice, water, salt, and cinnamon to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Cover and reduce heat to low; let simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until the rice is cooked through and almost all of the water has evaporated. (That starchy water that remains after the rice is cooked through is what is going to help make our arroz con leche extra creamy.) 
  2. Stir in the 4 cups of milk. Cover, leaving lid slightly ajar; let simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until milk comes to a boil.
  3. Sweeten with granulated sugar to taste. If adding raisins or dried cranberries, stir them in with the granulated sugar. Cover, leaving lid slightly ajar (to preven milk from spilling over); let simmer for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until rice mixture is thick and creamy. 
  4. Remove from heat. Let cool slightly. Serve warm or let cool completely and refrigerate until ready to serve. Spoon rice pudding into bowl or coffee mugs. Sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Buen provecho! 
Tips:
  1. To help thicken your arroz con leche, mash the rice lightly with a potato masher.
  2. If your arroz con leche is still not creamy enough for your taste, dissolve the cornstarch in the cold milk. Stir into the rice pudding, and let simmer until desired thickness. 
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Comfort Food Classics: Arroz con Leche (Mexican Rice Pudding)

Traditional arroz con leche (rice pudding) meets tropical piña coladas in a creamy dessert made with pineapple, cream of coconut, and shredded coconut.


Piña Colada Arroz con Leche - lacocinadeleslie.com

Did you know that August 9th is National Rice Pudding Day?! I didn't, at least not until this morning while scrolling through my Instagram feed. Because I love all things rice pudding, what better way to celebrate this food holiday than with Piña Colada Arroz con Leche? This is a delicious summertime dessert that can be enjoyed warm--topped with toasted coconut, or served cold--topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a maraschino cherry just like a piña colada cocktail.

Piña Colada Arroz con Leche

The classic combination of milk and cookies in a delicious Mexican atole.



When brainstorming ideas for what flavors of atole to share for #AtoleWeek, the kiddies insisted I make Cookies 'n Cream Atole, another version of Atole de Galleta, made with Oreos. Who doesn't love Oreos?! This Atole de Oreo starts with an Atole Blanco base (thickened with cornstarch), and the cookies are added at the very end. Top your Atole de Oreo with a dollop or two of whipped cream for a decadent treat the whole family will love!

Cookies 'n Cream Atole (Atole de Oreo) #AtoleWeek

Atole Blanco is the base recipe for many traditional Mexican atoles, but it is also delicious all on it's own.



Mexican atoles come in a wide variety of flavors like chocolate, strawberry, cookie, cream cheese, guava, sweet potato, coconut, pecan, mango, cajeta, corn... The list goes on and on! But the one thing most atoles have in common, whether they are thickened with masa or cornstarch, is that they all start with a basic Atole Blanco base. Atoles are my favorite winter beverage, and every year I try to make sure I make all of our favorite flavors. But sometimes it's nice to sip on a simple White Atole. The soothing flavor reminds me of my grandparents, who often prepared Atole Blanco when I was sick.

Comfort Food Classics: Atole Blanco de Masa (Basic White Atole) #AtoleWeek

Atole de Chocolate is a thicker and creamier cinnamon-infused version of traditional hot cocoa made with Mexican chocolate.


Mexican Hot Chocolate Atole - lacocinadeleslie.com

After a cold and rainy weekend here in Mexico, the sun is shining in the bright blue sky. But I think the sun might be broken, because the temperatures this morning dipped to a bone-chilling 2 degrees Celsius (about 35°F). That's freezing cold weather for these here parts, and the layer of ice on our truck's windshield before taking the younger kiddies to school is a not-so-gentle reminder that winter will soon be here. Because there's nothing like a hot mug of atole to warm you up on a cold winter's day, this week in my cocina we will be celebrating #AtoleWeek. Tune in every day this week (Monday-Friday) for some of my favorite atole recipes.

Atole de Chocolate (Mexican Hot Chocolate Atole) #AtoleWeek

One of my favorite things about fall and the crisp cooler weather that comes with it is the wide variety of hot beverages available to help keep you warm like coffee, ponche, and atole. (Just to name a few.) My heart will always belong to coffee. (I'm drinking a cup as I write.) And ponche will always be a holiday favorite. But atolein all it's creaminess, is the epitome of comfort in a cup during the cold fall and winter months. I love atole SO much that I thought it would be fun to devote this entire week (which I'm calling #AtoleWeek) in my Cocina to sharing some of my favorite atole recipes.

Atole de Avena / Mexican Oatmeal - lacocinadeleslie.com


Comfort Food Classics: Atole de Avena (Oatmeal Atole) #AtoleWeek

It's summer, the sun is scorching hot, and all I really want is something to help me stay cool. So when it came time to pick a recipe from my Secret Recipe Club assignment this month, I knew I wanted something along those lines. I think it's awesome that my blog assignment this month hails all the way from Australia. My Hobbie Lobbie is a new-to-me blog written by Trisha who loves to craft and travel. Although Trisha is a baker, she had plenty of recipes that fit my desire to stay cool perfectly. Her Mango (no-churn) Ice Cream immediately caught my attention, as did her Choco-Fudge Pops, and Melon-Cucumber Smoothie. And once the weather cools down a bit I'll be trying her Baked Naan, Japanese Cheesecake, and Sweet & Salty Cumin Cookies, because I never would have thought to add cumin (one of my favorite spices) to cookies. But the recipe that won me over was her Mango Milkshake, because who doesn't love a thick and creamy milkshake in the summer?

As much as my family loves milkshakes, we tend to stick to our favorite flavors like strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, cookies & cream, and peanut butter & banana. But as soon as I read the words "mango milkshake" I thought, "I love mangos in my licuados (smoothies), but why have I never thought to add them to a milkshake?!" These Mango Milkshakes were such a hit with my Hubby and kiddies, that I've already made them 5 or 6 times in the last 4 weeks. The first couple of times I followed Trisha's recipe to a tee using only vanilla ice cream. But after a visit to our local paleteria (popsicle/ice cream parlor) and seeing that they had mango ice cream, I forewent buying just a scoop and bought an entire liter to use just for mango milkshakes and that's all I've used ever since.

Once you try these Mango Milkshakes, I think you'll agree that they are sunshine in a glass.

Mango Milkshake - lacocinadeleslie.com

Secret Recipe Club: Mango Milkshake

lacocinadeleslie.com

Love is in the air and I am in the mood for...chocolate!  Lots and lots of chocolate.  And since chocolate makes the heart grow fonder, I whipped up a little something special for the people I love most.  A rich, Chocolate Bread Pudding made with my favorite kind of chocolate...Mexican chocolate.  

This Mexican Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding is so sweet and delicious, it's like tearing off pieces of a fresh baked bolillo roll and dipping them into a cup of Mexican hot chocolate.  But it's like 10 times better, because the chocolate doesn't completely dissolve and disappear into the milk.  The Mexican chocolate melts into these super soft morsels that have a slightly grainy texture from the cinnamon and sugar the Mexican chocolate is flavored with.

I made this bread pudding as a dessert, but it would also make for a sweet breakfast to surprise your loved ones with, say on Valentine's Day morning.


lacocinadeleslie.com


Mexican Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding 
(recipe from Herbivoracious by Michael Natkin)

Ingredients:

  • 4 bolillo rolls, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup sugar 
  • Pinch of salt 
  • 2 disks Mexican chocolate (Abuelita or Ibarra brands), roughly chopped
  • Whipped cream (optional) 

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 350F.  Generously butter a large baking dish.  Arrange the bread pieces in the baking dish and let sit uncovered for about an hour to allow the bread to dry out a little.



In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until light and fluffy.  Slowly, whisk in the milk until well combined; stir in the sugar, vanilla, and salt.  Pour the the milk mixture over the bread, tossing lightly to make sure every piece is evenly coated.  


Top with the chocolate; stir ever so lightly to make sure you get a little bit of chocolate in every bite.


Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.  Remove from oven and let set for about 10 minutes.  To serve, top with a dollop of whipped cream and a dash of ground cinnamon.  Enjoy!!!

lacocinadeleslie.com

For more delicious treats to share with the ones you love, check out what my #SundaySupper friends are serving up this week. 

#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Breakfasts, Apps & Main Dishes:
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Sweet Eats:
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Drinks:
#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Tablescape: A Romantic Table For Two Please from An Appealing Plan 

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter on Sunday, February 10th to talk all about Valentine’s eats and treats!  We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world.  Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET and you do not want to miss out on the fun.  Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.  Check out our#SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos!


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Mexican Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding #SundaySupper






When I think of Christmas, visions of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, my grandmother's tamales, and Ponche de Manzana all dance in my head.  There used to be a time, back when we lived in the States, when those visions also included eggnog.   Eggnog was one of the rare American treats that my Mexican grandparents loved.  It was one of the things I looked forward to most each year during the holidays.  One of our family's holiday traditions was to sip on eggnog, while we decorated our tree, listening to my grandmother's Christmas album collection on the jolly old record player.  (Yes, I'm THAT old!)

The last time I had eggnog was the Christmas before we moved to Mexico...13 years ago!

I crave eggnog every year when we put our Christmas tree up, even though now I make a big pot of champurrado for all of us to enjoy!  My kiddies had never even heard of eggnog, so they had no idea what they were missing.  But thanks to my good friend Girlichef, who suggested we make Rompope/Eggnog this month for She Made/Ella Hace they finally got their chance to try it!   

I don't know why it never occurred to me before to make my own eggnog.  It's actually quite simple.  My plan was to find a recipe online to try,  but after describing eggnog to the kiddies as a thick and creamy atole chock full of spices that is served cold, I decided to make just that...a cold eggnog atole (of sorts) made with milk and a packet of vanilla flavored Maizena (cornstarch), plus a couple of eggs, a few spices, and lots of fluffy whipped cream.   

The results far exceeded my expectations!  This eggnog was better than the store-bought kind I remembered.  It was creamy and frothy and full of flavor from the nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.   This recipe is definitely a keeper!


Homemade Eggnog


Custard base: 
  • 5 cups milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 packet vanilla flavored Maizena (cornstarch)  
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves  
Additional ingredients: 
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1/2 cup of rum or brandy (optional) 

Directions:
In a large saucepan, whisk together the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla flavored Maizena, the ground nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves until well combined.


Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the custard begins to boil and has thickened.  Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.


Just look at all those gorgeous specks of spices!


Combine the whipping cream and powdered sugar in a large bowl.  Using an electric mixer on high speed, whip the whipping cream until thick and fluffy.


Gently fold the whipped cream into the eggnog custard.  Stir in the rum.  (If serving to kids, omit the alcohol!)


Chill the eggnog in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  Enjoy!!!


Be sure to visit Girlichef's blog to check out her Rompope (Mexican Eggnog)!



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Homemade Eggnog w/ Maizena {She Made/Ella Hace}