Baked Rice (or Couscous) Pudding

Bake at 350° for 50 mins to 1 hour  * Serves 6
- Terrific breakfast or snack. Mild on sweetness and can be easily  modified with additional ingredients to your liking.

• 2 c. cooked rice or couscous (leftovers are perfect)
• 1/3 c. sugar (or if you are nutty like me and want less refined sugar see below*) 
• 3 c. milk
• pinch of salt
• 5 eggs (beaten)
• 1 Tblsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)
• 1/4 raisins (optional)

Mix all ingredients together (be sure to beat the eggs FIRST or there will be chunks of egg in the pudding). Pour into a 9×13 inch pan or separate ramekins and bake until top is golden brown.

Serve hot or cold with cinnamon and milk.

* cook dates in boiling water for 10 minutes; remove pits and place in blender with enough juice or water to puree into a thick, smooth consistency. Replace sugar with date mixture.