Easter is the time to splurge! How my family chooses to splurge from a 40-day Lent period, is by baking my Dad’s favorite Italian Dessert called Didida. It is pronounced exactly how it’s spelled. Not only is it fun to say it’s easier to enjoy. Do not let the sugar amount scare you. After all it is Easter. Enjoy!
4 cups White Rice
8 cups Water
6 Eggs
4- 4oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/3 cup Ground Cinnamon
4 cups Sugar
3 Tablespoons Pure Vanilla Extract
2 Cups of Lasagna Filling (refer to Mama LaRosa’s Lasagna Recipe for ingredients)
Drizzle Honey for Garnish
Dust of Powdered Sugar Garnish
Method
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the rice until tender in a sauce pot. Bring the rice to a boil then turn off the burner and keep the lid on for 8-10 minutes until the rice is cooked through. No peaking!
2. In a large bowl with a whisk combine 6 eggs, sweetened condensed milk, sugar, vanilla, and ground cinnamon, add ricotta/mascarpone lasagna filling, whisk until smooth. Then add the rice. I suggest doing a large spoonful of rice at a time and whisk to ensure there is no lumps of rice throughout your pudding.
3. Grease a ceramic bowl with melted butter and pour your pudding into the bowl. Place the pudding in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour or until the pudding is cooked through. Use a toothpick to poke the pudding, if it comes out clean the pudding is finished baking.
4. Garnish with a drizzle of honey and a dusting of powdered sugar and enjoy!