1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg OR mace
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 cup instant rice

combine cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a small bowl. pour into a 1 pint wide-mouth jar with a tight-fitting lid and pack down firmly. layer remaining ingredients attractively. pack down lightly before adding each layer. seal jar.

cover top of jar with fabric. attach gift tag/recipe with raffia or ribbon. attach wooden spoon, if desired.

makes 1 (1 pint) jar

ATTACH THE FOLLOWING RECIPE TO THE JAR:

CHERRY AND SPICE RICE PUDDING

1 qt whole milk*
1 jar cherry and spice rice pudding mix
6 cinnamon sticks (optional)
6 maraschino cherries (optional)

*for richer pudding, use 3 cups milk and 1 cup half-and-half

bring milk to a simmer over medium heat in a large saucepan. gradually stir in cherry and spice rice pudding mix. cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until thickened, about 20 minutes.

spoon pudding into 6 heatproof cups. set aside to cool. to serve, garnish each with a cinnamon stick and a maraschino cherry, if desired.

6 servings