October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month {NBCAM}. A health campaign to increase awareness & raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, & cure. The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer. NBCAM provides a platform for the breast cancer charities and also reminds women that the key to defeating this disease is Early Detection.
These two words: Early Detection is so important to eliminate this disease from our planet. My family has been affected by this horrid cancer and I know first hand how important it is to get an annual mammograms & self breast exam. I have a family member who survived breast cancer for 22 years now and that is just because she was pro-active about self breast exam and mammograms.
According to AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY Early Detection is the KEY to fighting Breast Cancer.
The goal of screening exams for early breast cancer detection is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Screening refers to tests and exams used to find a disease, such as cancer, in people who do not have any symptoms. Early detection means using an approach that allows earlier diagnosis of breast cancer than otherwise might have occurred.
Breast cancers that are found because they are causing symptoms tend to be larger and are more likely to have already spread beyond the breast. In contrast, breast cancers found during screening exams are more likely to be smaller and still confined to the breast. The size of a breast cancer and how far it has spread are some of the most important factors in predicting the prognosis (outlook) of a woman with this disease.
Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year, and that many more lives could be saved if even more women and their health care providers took advantage of these tests. Following the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.
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I decided to make this rice pudding in honor of my loving family member who has defeated and conquered this awful disease. I made a creamy luscious rice pudding and infused it with the flavor of orange blossom water & cardamom. Toasted pistachios were the perfect topping for this delectable dessert.
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{RECIPE}~CREAMY RICE PUDDING INFUSED WITH ORANGE BLOSSOM WATER~
Serves 4-5
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cup cooked basmati rice
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon orange blossom water
- a handful of toasted & chopped pistachios
Please Note: I found that cooked basmati rice makes the process much easier & the process is much quicker.
1. In a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat, combine the cooked rice and milk. Heat until the mixture begins comes to boil.
2. Decrease the heat to low and cook at a simmer until the mixture begins to thicken, stirring frequently, approximately 5 minutes.
3. Increase the heat to medium, add the heavy cream, sugar, orange blossom water and cardamom and continue to cook until the mixture just begins to thicken again, approximately 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Once the mixture just begins to thicken, remove from the heat and transfer the mixture to individual serving dishes or a glass bowl and place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the rice pudding.
5. Serve chilled with the toasted pistachis topping. I used my Turkish Chai glasses to serve the rice pudding which I bought from the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
i adore your photos. and the addition of orange blossom water is gorgeous. xx shayma
Thank you Shayma! I love orange blossom water too and am using it a lot lately!
Wonderful message with a fantastic dessert! Rice pudding often looks gloppy in photos and you make it look as elegant as the recipe sounds. I enjoy the creamy texture of rice pudding, it is one of the ultimate comfort desserts and the addition of orange blossom and pistachios is inspired.
Grazie.
Grazie Lael!
This is a really beautiful post! Thanks for helping to spread awareness of such an important issue. I’ve had a couple people in my life who have conquored breast cancer too. The pudding looks delicious!
Thank you Faith!
What a great post, as women we have to be aware of these issues and make sure we get ourselves checked out and not be lazy (like me). :S
Love the rice pudding and photos. I love your napkins, demitasse spoons and trays, everything, really beautiful!
I love your collections of kitchen wares! I’m drooling all over this.
You are not lazy Nadia..lol but its good to take care of your health.
Thanks Kulsum!
What a lovely idea to remember and bring light to Breast cancer. This recipe is beautiful and the additino of orange blossom is perfect. Lovely post!
Hey Sara,
I always love the use of vibrant colors in your photographs and how to pair them with some og the most gorgeous props and photography skills but I have to say this one take the cake
Very pretty post for a very great cause! Keep it up!
Thanks Joudie!
Thanks Prerna!
Oh divine delight! I am loving the pretty blue too.
I am yet to do a rice pudding with the orange blossom water. This is so similar to the Indian rice pudding/either kheer or phirni, except for the orange blossom water. My kind of heart warming, comfort dessert.
Wow – your photos are stunning! I love your cup and it looks gorgeous with the pudding. I can’t wait to try rice pudding with orange blossom water.
The addition of orange blossom water sounds divine!