EASY HOMEMADE BREAD PUDDING 101

Steps:

• 1. Mist a 13 x 9" baking dish with cooking spray. Tear up bread into pieces and put into the baking dish. Sprinkle optional raisins & nuts over bread pieces, if desired. Set aside.
• 2. Next comes making the custard. Do you want to heat this up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave?
• 3. STOVE DIRECTIONS: Crack the eggs into a saucepan and beat with a whisk or a wooden spoon. Add the milk, sugar, and butter, then heat until hot, but NOT BOILING, stirring constantly. Remove from heat & stir in the vanilla. Pour egg mixture over the bread pieces in the baking dish. Jump down to Step #5.
• 4. MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS: Crack the eggs into a large microwave safe bowl & beat with a whisk or fork. Stir in milk, sugar, and butter. Microwave for 2 minutes, stir, microwave for 2 more minutes, stir, check to see if it's hot, but NOT BOILING. If not, continue microwaving for another 30 seconds, then stir & check. When the egg mixture is hot enough, remove from microwave, stir in vanilla, and pour over the bread pieces in the baking dish.
• 5. Press the bread pieces into the egg mixture with the whisk until all bread is evenly coated.
• 6. Sprinkle sugar & cinnamon over the dish, if desired. Let set for 15 minutes so the bread will absorb the egg mixture. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• 7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes, or until the custard is set and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm or cold. Refrigerate leftovers.
• 8. ARE YOU GOING TO GET SAUCED? In my family, bread pudding is usually eaten warm with a little milk poured over the top. But many people love to top their bread pudding with a sauce. Popular choices are Praline Sauce (Paula Deen has a great recipe online), Vanilla Custard Sauce, Rum Sauce, Whiskey Sauce, Lemon Sauce, and Caramel Sauce. Other people like a simple drizzle made of confectioners sugar & milk. Enjoy the search for the perfect bread pudding topping for your family. =^..^=