The 9th of August is Rice Pudding Day.
It celebrates the wonderful, creamy comfort food that generations have grown up with and loved.
Today you get to enjoy it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
Do you like yours with raisins in it? Other fruit or citrus zest? Chilled or warm?
Did you know there’s a special type of rice grown for pudding? It’s called pudding rice.
Healthier versions can be made with reduced or non-caloric sweetener and brown rice.
There are also savoury versions made in many cuisines.
#NationalRicePuddingDay #RicePuddingDay
See also: Rice, Rice Pudding, Puddings, Chocolate Pudding Day, Tapioca Pudding Day, Vanilla Pudding Day
Activities for today
- Make some rice pudding;
- make a big batch the day before and take some into work to share;
- if you are pressed for time and can’t make some, enjoy a can or a snack pack of rice pudding;
- try making yours with a plant-based milk, or another type of dairy milk such as goat;
- try some with some alcohol stirred in, such as rum or a liqueur;
- to be fancy, try making a rice pudding soufflé;
- try making a savoury version for dinner.
Recipes
- Baked Rice Pudding
- Caramelized Apple Risotto Pudding
- Lemon & Maple Jasmine Rice Pudding
- Rum & Raisin Rice Pudding
History
The absolute earliest print mention that CooksInfo is aware of for a Rice Pudding Day in August dates from 1983 in Florida, though the exact date is not given:
“No doubt intended for the portly and proud of it is the ‘1984 Calendar of Self-Indulgence’, which features cartoons and food holidays. Owners of this calendar, for example, will be pleased to learn that the week of Aug. 5-11 not only features National Waffle Day and National Root Beer Float Day, but National Raspberries-And-Cream, Frozen Custard, Rice Pudding, S’Mores and Raspberry-Bombe days as well.” — Judds, Ann. 1984. A new year requires a new calendar. Tallahassee, Florida: Tallahassee Democrat. Wednesday, 28 December 1983. Page 2C, col. 3.
The earliest print mention that CooksInfo is aware of for a Rice Pudding Day on the 7th of August dates from 2001 in Georgia:
“Ever wonder what nonsensical holiday it might be?.. Guestfinder.com offers a listing… Here are some highlights for August… Today [Ed: Tuesday 7 August 2001] marks the last of World Breastfeeding Week but Wednesday is the first day of National Smile Week. Also, today marks the date of the first photograph of Earth taken from space in 1959. Thursday [Ed: 9th August 2001]is National Rice Pudding Day.” — Learn offbeat holidays with Internet help. Atlanta, Georgia: The Atlanta Constitution. Tuesday, 7 August 2001. Page B2, col. 1.
Sources
Lehner, Dave. Geezer’s Blog – National Rice Pudding Day. Minot, North Dakota: KCJB AM Radio. 9 August 2018. Accessed June 2021 at https://kcjb910.iheart.com/content/2018-08-09-aug-9-geezers-blog-national-rice-pudding-day/
Rice Pudding Day: Make your own with this delicious recipe from Scottish chef Mark Greenaway. Glasgow, Scotland: Daily Record. 9 August 2015. Accessed May 2019 at http://www.scotlandnow.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/rice-pudding-day-make-your-6206147
Weaver, Carly. Today in NJ: National Rice Pudding Day. Florham Park, NJ: Best of New Jersey. 8 August 2016. Accessed May 2019 at
https://bestofnj.com/today-nj-august-9
Wright, Mary Ellen. Sunday Brunch: Celebrate National Rice Pudding Day with centuries-old comfort food. Lancaster, PA : Lancaster Online. 9 August 2015. Accessed May 2019 at https://lancasteronline.com/features/food/sunday-brunch-celebrate-national-rice-pudding-day-with-centuries-old/article_4ceea5cc-3ecd-11e5-99cc-63838ae4db7a.html