Do you remember all the great commercials on TV when we were kids?  Okay, maybe I’m dating myself by admitting this but every commercial had a catchy tune to it in the 80’s. “I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys R Us kid” or for you local Angelinos “Go see Cal, go see Cal, go see Cal.”  Then there was, “I’m a pepper, he’s a pepper, she’s a pepper, we’re a pepper, wouldn’t you like to be a pepper too?” Ahhh memories…..

The one song that has taken up residence in my mind lately is that old ditty for milk….. “Milk it does, Milk it does the body, Milk it does the body GOOD, pass it on….What you say?  Pick you up anytime of the day.”  These are words I lived by growing up and I want to make sure my 2 year old son does too.  Milk is already a sure fire hit with him, he drinks 3 to 4 servings of milk daily in his sippy cup.  At a certain point I have to draw the line and incorporate milk in some other form.  What does a mom do?  Make Arroz con leche of course (Mexican rice pudding).   I certainly ate my share as a young girl and still do. Today I introduced arroz con leche for the first time to my boy and the results were better than great.

All photos taken by: Nicole Presley and Mando Lopez

Ingredients for arroz con leche:

4 – cups water

2 – cinnamon sticks

1 – tablespoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 – long grain rice

1 1/2 – cups whole milk

1/2 – cup raisins

1 – 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk

1/2 – teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a medium sauce pan (with a lid) over a medium high flame add water, cinnamon sticks and vanilla.  Bring to a boil. Then add rice and mix well, bring water to a boil again.

   Once boiling lower flame to low/simmer and cover pan with lid.  Cook for 20 minutes. Remove from flame.

In a separate sauce pan heat milk and raisins over a low flame for 8 minutes.

Once rice is fully cooked add warm milk/raisins and mix well.

Last add the sweetened condensed milk and ground cinnamon. Mix well.

Serve warm or place in the refrigerator over night and enjoy cold. Either way works.

I’m so thrilled by my arroz con leche. The fact that my son is loving it leads me to share this news with the Master of the Glass Half Full, Simon Felix.  Lets find him on facebook here.  Or get really wild and tweet him on twitter here.  He brings great positivity into my life day after day, I think he’ll be pleased to hear this milk report.  Who knows? Maybe he’ll let other friends know about this arroz con leche recipe… A mom can only hope.

Disclosure: This is part of a sponsored campaign with the California Milk Processor’s Board and Latina Mom Bloggers. The recipe and opinions are my own.