Not quite settled

I have no computer connection at home (yet), so am stealing some time on my sister's computer to type this.

We have finally moved into a house, but still have a million boxes to unpack. The house is small, and the rooms barely hold the furnishings that I didn't leave behind (yes, I left a large part of my household in the move. I felt very much like a pioneer having to choose what necessities to take and leaving nearly everything else). Still, I am faring far better than a cousin whose home burned to the ground last week and none of the contents could be saved. At least we are all alive and well!

As most of my kitchen ware and food is still packed, I have been limited in what I can cook and eat. My cupboards are full of spices and little else. I did make a run to the grocery store after a weeks, but in the meantime there was not much to go on. I had some rice and remembered (not so fondly) the 6 weeks I lived on nothing but rice and bottled cherries when I moved back from Washington D.C. many years ago. To this day I cannot eat cherries, but I have no problem with rice!

Along with the rice I found a can of sweetened condensed milk in the cupboard.
So here's what I made:

Arroz Con Leche (not the real way to make it, but if your supplies are limited...)

2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
About 5 cups water
salt
1 can sweetened condensed milk (like Eagle brand)
4 cups milk
1 orange peal (or is that peel? I never can remember)
cinnamon (optional)
dulce de leche (optional)

Put uncooked rice in a large pan. I don't measure the water. Add enough so the water is about 2 inches above the rice. Add a little salt. Bring to a boil and let boil until water is mostly gone and only rice with small bubbles of water here and there can be seen. Put the lid on the rice, turn off burner, and let rice sit/steam for 20 minutes. *Rice may not be completely tender. This is OK, since it will finish cooking when the milk is added.

Whisk together the sweetened condensed milk and milk. Pour into the rice and add the orange peal. Turn heat back on, bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from heat. Serve plain or with with cinnamon or dulce de leche. Can serve hot, warm, cool, or cold.