Peanut Butter and Jelly “Risotto”

Here we go with Round 2 of the Marx Foods Integrale Gauntlet! In this round, we were challenged in making a sweet dish with the same Integrale Rice supplied by Marx Foods.  This dish was inspired by a friend, Heather Atwood, who once mentioned a Peanut Butter & Jelly Risotto , in jest, during a conversation on Twitter. Now, truth be told, this was pertaining to a savory risotto, which would have been a whole lot more challenging, but the inspiration is still legitimate. Once I heard this, I knew I had to make it!

Peanut Butter and Jelly “Risotto”

For this dish I simply wanted to create a peanut butter rice pudding and I wanted the jelly to be made from something fresh and in season.  Strawberries are definitely in season here in New England so they seemed to be a perfect fit! To finish it off, I needed to find a way to add that simple Mexican twist that I love. So taking the basic building blocks of a peanut butter rice pudding, a fresh strawberry jelly, and the added twist of grated Mexican chocolate, I present to you The Peanut Butter and Jelly “Risotto”.  I call this a “risotto” because I approached the preparation of the rice pudding in fairly the same manner as I would a risotto, except instead of adding broth, I added milk! You will notice that I use no custard in this recipe. This is because my daughter has a severe food allergy to eggs and she wanted to try this one!  Do you think this is a one way ticket to the next round?

Peanut Butter Rice Pudding

• 1 cup Integrale Rice
• 3 cups fat free milk (Horizon Organic)
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup organic creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon grated Mexican Chocolate (Ibarra or Abuelita)
• Pinch salt

1. In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine the rice, 3 cups of milk, and brown sugar
2. Cook, stirring, until the mixture just begins to boil (being careful not to scald the milk). Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until rice is almost tender and most of the milk is absorbed. This will take about 30 to 35 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mix the peanut butter, vanilla, and cinnamon together and then add to the rice mixture. Cook for another 5 minutes, then remove from heat and chill.
4. Serve in 6 ounce ramekins with the All-Natural Strawberry Jelly and dust with the grated Mexican chocolate!

All-Natural Strawberry Jelly

• 2 Cups Fresh Stawberries
• 2 Cups Organic Sugar

1. Chop the strawberries and heat in a medium saucepan on medium-high heat.
2. Cook the strawberries down for about 5 minutes then macerate them to a pulp.
3. Add the sugar and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
4. At this point the fruit should release its natural pectin, so remove from heat, cool, then preserve in your jars or containers.
   

   Peanut Butter and Jelly “Risotto”

Tags: Contests, Desserts, Food, Jelly, Mexican Chocolate, Peanut Butter, recipes, Strawberries