Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

1/3 cup rice
1 - 1/2 cups water
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1 - 1/3 cups milk
1 tbs butter or margarine
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 egg yolks, beaten
raisins (optional), cinnamon (optional)

Combine rice and water in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 25 minutes, or until rice is very tender and most of water is absorbed.

Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add milk and sugar mixture to rice. Heat to boiling; boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Stir in butter and vanilla. Slowly stir about 1 cup of the hot rice mixture into beaten egg yolks in a bowl. Immediately pour back into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, just until mixture starts to bubble.

Serve warm or chilled, plain or with favorite topping.