valentine's day treat

mike loves rice pudding.

so quinn and i decided to make some for valentine's day...with chocolate (ohhhhh, yummy)...courtesy of giada de laurentiis (found here).

1.  start by placing baby in sling or wrap so that both hands are FREE!

2.  gather ingredients:

• 5 cups whole milk
• 2/3 cup Arborio rice (same rice used for risotto)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons orange zest (from 1 medium orange)
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract)
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 tablespoons orange liqueur
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3.  baby falls asleep after approximately 5 minutes...

4.  create:

In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine the milk, rice, sugar, and orange zest. 

Scrape in the seeds from the vanilla bean (i used 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract added with the cocoa powder at the end) and add the bean to the saucepan. 

Bring the milk to a boil, stirring occasionally. 

Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the rice is tender and the mixture thickens, about 35 to 40 minutes. 

Remove the pan from the heat and discard the vanilla bean. 

Stir the cocoa powder and orange liqueur into the mixture (vanilla extract added here).

Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. 

Allow the mixture to cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Spoon the rice pudding into serving bowls. 

Cover and refrigerate for 2 1/2 to 3 hours and up to 1 day ahead.

5.  enjoy!