Mind-clearing rice pudding

Pappou was quiet; he had integrity and no flashness about him. He always wore a perfectly ironed shirt, gilet in winter, polished shoes and had his hair slicked back with the special cream he ordered from Italy. He never demanded acknowledgement, but dashed around quietly with the energy of milk just at that rolling boil.
~ Tessa Kiros

Up till 11am this morning, I’d never eaten rice pudding. I’d never made it, either.

I made my first rice pudding today. It was imperfect, a little too dry, there wasn’t enough milk, it was a new flavour. I was very happy with it.

(Next time, I will do better.)

This recipe was from Tessa Kiros’ “Falling Cloudberries”:
#51 Rice Pudding – Page 192

This is a recipe inspired by her grandfather. I love what she wrote about him (see quote above)…

My grandfather too, is quiet and dresses neatly, never demanding acknowledgement or thanks from anyone. He likes his sugar and I am sure he would like to try this sometime too. When I next see him, I will make him this.

I decided to make rice pudding today because I awoke with a crowded head. Yesterday was my last day of work, you see, at an organisation I’ve worked for twice. It was surreal and sad to say goodbye again, but I was almost impatient as well – impatient to know what lay ahead, impatient to know what I’ll be doing next, impatient…

It didn’t help that I am in a season of turning my face to the sun and wanting to explore everything at once. I scared myself with a sideways glance at my diary this morning.

It is not wise to keep running when you haven’t had breakfast. It is best to slow down by doing something which takes time, something which reminds you of what you love.

Making rice pudding did this. It reminded me of my Grandma nourishing us all with rice porridge. It reminded me of Granddad and how he drinks tea with so much sugar it makes my teeth tingle just thinking about it. It required standing by the stove for around 45 minutes, enough time to slow down, relax and clear my mind.

This is how to handle a crowded mind: slow down, do something you love, think of the people you love and what you will do for them next.

Then, look at your list of things to do and don’t be surprised at how much smaller it looks now.