Will Run For Maple Rice Pudding

Today Pace Bunny and I officially started training for the www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com !

We are only running the 1/2 marathon and have decided to call it the FULL (it doesn't seem like a big deal when you say your are doing half of something) 1/2 Martini Marathon (we're taking training very seriously as you can tell). 

After running a marathon that Pace Bunny is still having flash backs about* and a 10K that made me think I should buy a florescent purple wind suit, a sweatband and take up mall walking we decided to train for the 1/2 with the goal of having a  finish line photo where we don't look like death or sausages stuffed into our running gear (Pace Bunny's shorts were pretty short today and since when is there a gap between my running shirt and shorts).

*(NEVER take copious amounts of Immodium before running 42 kilometres regardless of how many times you have to visit the portapotty before the race begins)

How is all of this related to rice pudding?  On a cool summer day (or what was a cool day) rice pudding makes a pretty good post run snack.  

  

Maple Rice Pudding

ingredients

1/3 C maple syrup 

3 Tbsp cornstarch

2 C soy, dairy or nut milk  (I used Unsweetened So Nice)

1-2 TBSP vanilla bean paste

1/4 C dates or raisins chopped (soaked in just boiled water for 5-10 minutes)

1/4 tsp grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2-2 C cooked brown or white rice (depending on how creamy you like your pudding)

In a medium saucepan mix maple syrup & cornstarch.  Gradually stir in milk.  Cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil and then simmer for 1 minute (it's important to stir or you could potentially end up with a burnt mess...yuck!).

Add nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla bean paste.

Add cooked rice.

Pour into serving dishes (or eat it directly from the pot) and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Candied walnuts would make a great addition to this recipe as well.  Yum!

You could switch this recipe up by substituting some coconut milk for soy milk and adding fresh or dried mango and pineapple.  You could add an assortment of spices such as cardamom, allspice, cloves, etc.  Have fun with it.