East Indian Farina Hot Cereal (Payasam) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk or 1 cup rice milk
1/3 cup farina (farina is also known as Cream of Wheat) or 1/3 cup brown rice meal (farina is also known as Cream of Wheat)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons butter (NOT margarine)
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, to taste
1/2 tablespoon unbleached cane sugar, to taste
2 tablespoons raw pistachios, pieces chopped or 2 tablespoons raw almonds, chopped
2 tablespoons raisins

Preparation

In saucepan bring milk to almost boil and stir in the cereal using a fork to break up the clumps. Stir in the salt.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes for farina, 10 minutes for rice meal.
In a small saute pan, melt the butter on medium heat and add the cardamon, cane sugar and raw nuts. Toast for about 2 minutes, being careful not to burn.
Add the raisins to the butter mixture and heat through.
Once the hot cereal is cooked, stir the cardamom/nut mixture into the cereal.
Serve piping hot. Mmmm!