The heavenly smell of rice pudding brings back Christmas memories of food, laughter, and family. The pudding is super simple to make, rich and creamy - and the highlight of any holiday feast. Serves 12.
Heat the oven to 325º. Combine all the ingredients, except the garnish, in a 2 1/2-quart casserole (low and wide is better than tall and deep).
Bake the pudding for 2 hours without stirring. Let it sit half an hour to set.
Serve the pudding warm or cold, garnished with the cinnamon and orange zest, if desired. Serves 12.