Holiday 2007

(Serves 8-10)

½ cup raisins
½ cup dark rum
2 tbsp plus 1 ¼ cups sugar, divided
1 8 oz. container mascarpone
2 ½ cups milk
2 ½ cups heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup arborio rice
1 cup pure pumpkin puree

1 Place raisins, rum and 2 tbsp sugar in microwavable bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 30 seconds; set aside to cool. 2 Drain mixture, and stir raisins into mascarpone. Set aside. 3 In heavy saucepan combine milk, cream, 1 cup sugar, cinnamon, vanilla salt and nutmeg; bring to a gentle simmer. 4 Add rice and stir constantly until mixture returns to a simmer. Let simmer 40-45 minutes, stirring often, until rice is tender. 5 Remove from heat; fold in pumpkin puree. Cover with plastic wrap; cool to room temperature. 6 Spoon rice pudding into individual ovenproof ramekins or into a 2 qt. ovenproof baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining ¼ cup sugar. 7 Caramelize by putting under broiler or using a cook's torch until sugar is golden brown. Serve with mascarpone.