Catholic Recipe: Nameday Strawberries Mold

A rice pudding meets strawberries treat to serve on namedays. Summer feast days would be best, as strawberries are in season.

DIRECTIONS

Cook 3/4 cup of well-washed rice in 1 quart of milk with 1/3 teaspoon of salt and 2/3 cup of sugar. When the rice is very soft and creamy, force it through a sieve and add 1 teaspoon of vanilla (we blend ours in a Waring blender). Soften 2 tablespoons of gelatine in 1/4 cup of water and dissolve it in the hot rice.

Cool the rice to lukewarm. Fold in 1 cup stiffly beaten cream and turn the mixture into a ring mold. Chill until well set, usually about 2 hours. Unmold on a cold platter and fill the center of the ring with 3 cups of strawberries mashed with 1/2 cup of fine granulated sugar. Save the best strawberries to use as a garnish for the ring. To the 3 cups of strawberries may be added 3 ounces of kirsch a half hour before serving, but this is optional.