Homemade Tapioca Pudding

INGREDIENTS:

½ cup small pearl tapioca

4 cups milk, whole or 2%

¾ cup white sugar

3 eggs

¾ cup white sugar, additional

1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

Rinse tapioca pearls and then pour into a small bowl and cover with water. Let soak 45-60 minutes.

Add milk and first ¾ cup of sugar to a large saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Once small bubbles form, add the tapioca pearls and reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Stir frequently and cook for 15-20 more minutes or until pearls become translucent.

As pearls cook, beat together the eggs and remaining ¾ cup sugar in a medium size bowl.

Slowly pour a stream of the hot mixture into the eggs about a ⅓ cup at a time, stirring constantly. Continue until half the hot mixture has been beaten into the eggs …