With the upcoming Christmas holiday bringing fond memories of past Christmases I thought some might enjoy this soup which was a yearly treat for us when growing up:

Diane's Home Cookin Chapter: Heirlooms

Melania's Christmas Eve Almond Soup (Zupa Migdalowa)

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4-5 c. whole milk

1/2 #finely ground blanched almonds

1/2 -1 tsp. almond extract

2 c. cooked short grain rice

1/3 c. sugar or brown sugar

1/4 c. golden raisins or currants

a few whole-roasted-salted almonds

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Warm milk to just above a simmer--stir in remaining ingredients & heat gently until raisins are plumped--about 10 min. Serve with one whole salted, roasted almond in each bowl.

can be served warm( traditional for us after Midnight Mass & Communion) or chilled.

-- This recipe is often used as part of a 12-course meal known in Polish as Wigilia. Wigilia is eaten after sundown on Christmas Eve.