Key Lime Rice

Ingredients

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tbsp. margarine or butter, melted
1 carton (8 oz.) cottage cheese
1 pkg. (3.5 oz.) vanilla instant pudding & pie filling
1 cup milk
2 Tbsp. lime juice
Grated peel of 1 lime
2 cups cold cooked Riceland Extra Long Grain Rice
3 drops green food coloring
Whipped topping, optional
Lime slices, optional

Preparation

Combine vanilla wafer crumbs, pecans and margarine in baking dish; bake 15 minutes at 350F. Remove from oven and allow to cool. With mixer or blender, process cottage cheese until smooth; set aside. Combine pudding mix and milk; mix well. Add cottage cheese, lime juice, lime peel, rice and food coloring to pudding, mixing all ingredients well. In serving bowl, layer half of crumb-nut mixture and top with half of pudding. Repeat layers. Chill and serve. Garnish with whipped topping and lime if desired. A cool summer refresher!