Vanilla Bean Rice with Cranberries and Almonds

3/4 cup short grain Rice, like Arborio

3 cups 2% Milk

1 Vanilla Bean*

1 Cinnamon Stick

Pinch Fresh Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/2 cup Dried Cranberries

1/2 cup Brown Sugar, lightly packed

1 teaspoon Orange Zest

1/3 cup toasted Almonds

In a sauce pan, add rice, milk, vanilla bean*, cinnamon stick, nutmeg, and salt.  Bring it all to a boil, turn it down to low and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Stir frequently to prevent rice burning to the bottom of the pan.

Add cranberries, brown sugar, and orange zest.  Stir all together and let it simmer for another 10 minutes.

Top it with toasted almonds before serving.  Goes well with vanilla or coconut ice cream.

Serve 4-5

*Cut vanilla bean length wise and scrape the beans out with a butter knife.