Hey Friends! How’s it goin?
I learned a new word this week: spuntino, which means snack in Italian. We all know I’m a literary nerd, so to celebrate my new knowledge, I made this Spiced Apple & Pear Brown Rice Pudding.
If you’re wondering why I’m randomly learning new words in Italian, it’s cuz one of my new roommates is on exchange from Italy. The other is here from France. Pretty cool right? It is, until you think about the fact that we all have different first languages.
Usually, I can understand them both when they speak English, and they can understand me, unless I’m speaking hardcore Trini (read: talking a mile a minute and mumbling my words). But, things get really crazy when we start talking to each other in an English/French/Italian hybrid. That makes for some interesting conversations around my apartment.
But if you thought that the language barrier kept us from connecting, you’d be dead wrong. The three of us actually bonded pretty quickly over our love of food, baking and cooking. These two girls cook as much as I do, and get excited about trying new foods and recipes. Which makes me all kind of excited to be living with them.
Yes, things can get a little dicey when we’re trying to convert rice in grams to rice in cups – without the aid of a food scale – but we have the best times while experimenting in the kitchen.
Recently, we started teaching each other words and phrases while cooking, eating or just hanging out in the kitchen. Like I said before, the Italian lesson this week was spuntino which sparked the idea for this recipe. We’d just spent a cold day at the farmers’ market buying way too many apples, pears and carrots, so I wanted something that we could enjoy while trying to warm up.
I decided to kill two (three?) birds with one stone, and made rice pudding with pears and apples added in. This Spiced Apple & Pear Brown Rice Pudding is dairy free, gluten free and free of refined sugars, and I know for a fact that it’s warming on cold fall days.
Basically, it’s the perfect fall spuntino.
- ½ cup brown rice
- 1½ cups water
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 2 cups almond milk + ½ cup (any dairy free will work)
- ½ tsp ground flax
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 small apple and 1 small pear, cut into small pieces (1/2" thick or smaller)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp ground ginger
- Optional: raisins and coconut flakes for topping
- Combine rice, water and coconut oil in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat
- Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat, stir, cover and let simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes
- Add 2 cups of milk, maple syrup, flax, vanilla, apple and pear, stir and allow to simmer, uncovered, for another 15 minutes or until most of the liquid has evaporated, and the desired consistency is reached (add up to ½ cup more milk as needed)
- Add spices, stir and heat for another 3 to 5 minutes
- Remove from heat and serve
What about you?
Have you ever lived with someone who spoke a different language? Did you have problems communicating? Did they cook for you? Do you know any food related words in other languages? What was your spuntino today?
Share in the comments below!
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Yum! I’ve never made or had rice pudding!
Me and languages don’t mix…that’s why I took Latin in high school! 4 years of translations and writing, NOT speaking!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Festive Spiced Pecan Quinoa Granola
This looks delicious, and the pictures are fab too! Being an expat, I basically hang out with other expats, and they come from all over the world! Canada, USA, Trinidad, Mexico, England, France, Italy, and Switzerland to name a few. I hear all sorts of languages, lol!
Ree recently posted…champagne basics
pinning!! These photos are gorgeous. <<I think I say that on all of your posts now, so basically you're amazing 😀
Erin @ The Almond Eater recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday: A Full Day of Food
That looks delicious! and your photography is beautiful!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Action Achieves – The Armpocket A-List & a GIVEAWAY
Ohh, this looks so good! I love anything with apples.
Erin @ Very Erin recently posted…Wedding Wednesday: Guest Books
I’ve lived in several different countries with different languages, but never lived with someone who spoke the local language. But, I definitely know how to talk about food in multiple languages! What really had an impact on me– moving to Malaysia where there are a lot of Brits, and realizing how many words are different in British English– especially for food–
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine recently posted…Pistachio Salmon with Cranberry Sauce and Celriac Mash
This looks lovely. Having a spuntino definitely sounds more fun than having a snack. I’m a nerd too so I love learning things like this.
Jenny recently posted…Everything In It’s Own Season
I’ve never had rice pudding before. I could certainly see myself liking it though!! ESPECIALLY this one, because pears – DYNAMITE!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Identity Crisis Cake Doughnuts
oh i love spiced fruit! and love that your new roommate is italian, magnifico!
This sounds like a delicious alternative to oatmeal! I’m currently on a no-oatmeal kick so I’ll give this a shot for sure. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Ariana recently posted…Inspiring Humans: Joel Hugh
This looks lovely! I am going to have to recreate the recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment recently posted…Precision Nutrition Program Review
Brilliant! I’m going to start going around telling people I’m a spuntino monster 😀 And I’m currently spunino-ing (is that a word??!) on a perfectly ripe banana while trying to decide what I want to do out here in Toronto while I wait for people to show up. The rain isn’t helping!
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. thinking out loud # 103 .
Seriously swooning over this! Your photos are stunning and this sounds so goooood!!
Leah recently posted…Salted Caramel Apple Crumble Bars
Love that you are living with a bunch of people from different countries. Makes life so interesting! This looks super yummy too 🙂
Amanda H recently posted…5 Ways to Have a Healthy and Happy Holiday Season
This looks so delicious. I love the mix of apple and pear.
I wish I lived with, or hung out, or even knew people who spoke other languages. I lived in Spain for a few months and loved the experience, it’d be fun to be hosting others here.
Kay @ Kay Bueno recently posted…My Weekend in Four Pictures
We hear how important getting your daily dose of vitamin and mineral rich fruits and vegetables
are for proper body functioning and overall health. It comes
with several features such as the following:. We found this space age juicer could
swallow whole fruit or vegetables in an instant and produce great tasting juice for the family to enjoy
every time we tried it.
highest rated juicer recently posted…highest rated juicer