RICE PUDDING WITH DRIED CHERRIES AND VANILLA

Rice Pudding with Dried Cherries and Vanilla image

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 8

1/3 cup dried tart cherries
4 1/2 cups low-fat (1%) milk
2/3 cup long-grain white rice
1/3 cup sugar
1 3 x1-inch orange peel strip (orange part only)
Generous pinch of salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Additional low-fat (1%) milk (optional)

Steps:

Place cherries in small bowl. Cover with hot water. Let stand 15 minutes. Drain.
Combine milk, rice, sugar, orange peel and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer gently uncovered until rice is very tender and pudding is creamy, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Mix in cherries and vanilla. Divide among 6 custard cups. Cool. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill.) Serve chilled or at room temperature, passing additional milk to stir into pudding, if desired.