“Have the Perfect Dessert – Bread Pudding”

Oct 21st “Have the Perfect Dessert – Bread Pudding”

A perfect fall dessert! This warm bread pudding is made of apples and raisins.

Ingredients

1 loaf (1 lb) baguette French bread, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes (10 cups)

4 cups half-and-half

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 eggs

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

4 cups chopped peeled cooking apples (3 medium)

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup real maple syrup, warmed

Steps

1 Heat oven to 350°F. Place bread cubes on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool completely.
2 Grease bottom and sides of 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with shortening or cooking spray. In large bowl, mix half-and-half, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs with whisk. Stir in bread cubes. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3 In 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook apples in butter 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until tender. Cool 5 minutes. Add apples and raisins to bread mixture; stir gently until blended. Pour mixture into baking dish.
4 Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until top is puffed and golden brown (center will jiggle slightly). Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm bread pudding with syrup.

and, just a little something abut our one and only best quick eating place in Fort Lauderdale, “Chat -‘N Nibble Restaurant”

The second restaurant we operated was the, Chat -‘ Nibble, in the Sears-town Shopping Center. Since we were right in the middle, we were very busy for Breakfast and the Lunch-Dinner hours. Each day there would be a Lunch Special, a most popular item, affordable and always high quality foods. For quick service, there was the 20 stool counter, giving you full view of the ice cream sodas , and banana splits being made.

“Ruby”, was the head Chef – someone that everyone knew and liked. She would make up special dishes from the customer ideas, pleasing to everyone! I also liked to be one of her favorite tasters! There was another Chef, mostly available on the late to closing shift, and she excelled in the desserts. But after all of these years can not remember her name.

My Mother, always made the best Rice Pudding and Bread Pudding, since she was Irish and English, these were the family favorites! My Grand-mother was the Best of Best “Cooks”, and these favorite puddings from and for our family, were some of my requests, to be made for the restaurant, and of course for me to sample, on those evenings when I would stop by – just to see the workers and check on how things were going.

When you have Chefs, wanting to “Please the Boss” – the best way – would be … “Please the Wife!” I was more likely to try something new, that they would be trying out – to see if it would be likable – so as to be sold – and sold out – when on the menu – and they would want ideas from the customers, that like to eat new and different foods and would also give an honest opinion of what was or was not quite right about the food being tested.

Since I like “Bread Pudding” and if “YOU the READER” – have a real good recipe that just may be better than the above – send it to me – as I would like to try it .

Starting Now, in October – when we like for the oven to be cooking and baking something real good, for all of the FAMILY – You know what I like!

Thanks for reading and sending in your good notes of inspiration! More Blessings to you from the Almighty! D.V.