I've had bread pudding on the brain. I think it is because I am heading my ample self back into Weight Watcher's meetings this week. I had the pleasure of visiting New Orleans a few years ago, and loving bread pudding like I do, I made it my mission to have a bread pudding shoot out while eating my way through The Big Easy. I ordered it everywhere we went, and by far and away, the winner was Mother's. Mother's is a famous place there, and the Po' Boys and bread pudding were to die for. I had a loaf of Texas Bread from fresh & easy and cut that up into cubes last night and let it sit out to stale. This morning, using a recipe from Paula Deen, I assembled the goodies, and proceeded to satisfy my craving.
Soak the bread in the egg/sugar mixture for a few minutes before spreading into pan.
I followed the recipe with a few changes. I did use more than the 3 cups of bread that recipe called for. I also used walnuts instead of pecans for the topping. Simply because I had them. And I added a good amount of cinnamon and fresh grated nutmeg to the dish where it called for none. I also used Amaretto in the brandy sauce. YUM!
If you can find whole nutmeg, use that over the kind you buy in a jar already grated. It is so much better. It can be kind of pricey ,but so worth it. Henry's carries it. I find it on an end cap, where they keep spices in the cellophane bags. You can get a bag with about 6 nuts. Cheapest way to get it, and it lasts a long time.
This bread pudding had a topping made with butter, brown sugar and nuts.
I also baked it a tad bit longer than recipe called for. I like bread pudding to have those crusty edges.
Now for the sauce! Oh my goodness...this is the crowning jewel. Made with sugar, butter,egg, vanilla and some type of brandy or rum. I used Amaretto.
Whisk egg, then pour into saucepan, along with sugar, butter and vanilla. Cook on low heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Be sure to dissolve all the way, or sauce will be grainy. When finished, add brandy. Be careful or you will have flambe! Speaking of which...that is another Crescent City famous dessert. Bananas Foster! Oh my! And did we ever enjoy them!!! Was that Brennan's Mom?
Bread Pudding with warm brandy sauce craving....CHECK!
Tomorrow....Home made Chocolate Chip Cookies!! Just kidding. Kind of. Maybe.
If you are a foodie....do go visit New Orleans! It is a fabulous city. Full of fun, and history, music, and good times! This was one of our most fun trips EVER!!! After this week, my food posts will be taking an entirely different turn. Until then....as our much loved Julia would say.......
Bon Appetit!
23 comments:
Kris, why oh why must you do this to me? That looks amazing. Heading to Sprouts today to buy fresh fruits and veggies, going to be doing the healthy thing for a while if It doesn't kill me. Somehow, overnight, all of my pants have shrunk. Weird.
Bread pudding is one of my favorite indulgences. I usually only make it once a year at Christmas time. I have an old family favorite recipe that my grandmother used to make. Yum.
OH MY!! I won't even begin to tell you how much I love bread pudding!! That is to die for yummy looking!!
We lived right next to new Orleans in Gretna in 1975 a month after we got married. I was too young to appreciate the culture - maybe because it was too hot and humid - it was summer and going outside was miserable. The daily late afternoon thunderstorms didn't help. I'd go back in the winter now though!!
OH..MY..GOODNESS..Kris, you do try my discipline, haha....this looks totally WONDERFUL!! I absolutely LOVE bread pudding. One of my very favorites for sure. Yum Yum Yum...sigh...Have a wonderful week-end! = )
I'm wondering if it would last the trip to Philadelphia...y'know...for when you send it to me :)
You are the best. I always find that one new ingredient that I've missed all along over here. Amaretto is the take-away today. Perfect. But, I must say, you are making me want to get off my tale and go for a walk. And walk we must after treats like these.
Sweet Weekend Wishes,
Kate
Oh that does look delicous. Good thing I wasn't around when you made that or I might have had half of it!
Again, you inspire me. Yumm....you can have that on WW, IF, you have vegetable soup, and FF jello the rest of the day......and I have done this many a day.....but no way to live. Love your Blog, trying to get into the Blogging airways again...dp
You are EVIL! LOL.
I'm contemplating starting a "diet" over the weekend too. I don't wanna, but I gotta. Yuck.
Have a great weekend.
Oops? I take that to mean that this delicious looking bread pudding was made by "accident"? You didn't really mean to make it? = )
Thumbs up to the Nordstrom cookbooks. I have two and love them.
Best,
Bonnie
Darn you & your bread pudding I did enjoy my piece tho.
Chocolate Chip cookies might be going a bit overboard tho...I'm proud of you for going back to w.w.'s the accountability factor is so great & in turn proves sucess. Go mom! Genny & I are full force in our healthy ways too it will be nice for all of us to be living a healthy life of longetveity & setting good food examples for our little ones.
:)
FYI.......
Heard this on the news this a.m....
When it is cold outside you burn more calories....soooooo
Sit outside and have another cookie.
Mom
Oh my gosh..I was getting all fired up with Erika's comment, feeling kind of proud of myself...then I read my Mom's comment. i do like the idea. It is cold out. I can go get on the treadmill, and since it is outside, in the cold, eat a cookie or two while i am jogging!!!
Yummy ~ This looks so good! I have made your Potato Cheese Soup that Genn posted about before, it's so good & my huband's favorite type of soup! Smallworld you know Erica Brooks, she is so sweet. She lives right across the street with her new hubby and daughter. Did you hear they are expecting? =)
I have only had bread pudding one time in my life and it was in New Orleans. It was delish. I'm with Holly though, trying to eat clean for a while. Thanks for sharing. Hang on, wiping a little drool off my mouth.
Sounds delicious, especially the Amaretto.
Oh yum. Seriously yum! I could eat that up in two seconds! Why do you do this to me Kris? Why? It's so rude. Your daughter made me crave a shake right now and you just made me want this. I think you are trying to make me fat. Are you? Hmmmmmm?!?! ;)
Have a wonderful weekend Kris! And I'll take a few of those cookies you'll be eating outside in the cold!! What a great idea, haha!!
Yum! Your whole blog is yum. I see you are a good cook and your food looks so yummy. You must be is SoCal. from the looks of your picture and the mention of the Santa Ana Mountains. I am in Covina.
Hi Kris, I'm a bread pudding fan, too. Whole Foods Mkt near me has it along with their breakfast bar and I'll indulge in a heaping tbsp of it along with other bkfst yummies from time to time. It keeps me from making it at home and eating waaaaay to much of it! Bummer you are having to diet! What has always worked for me is to not deny the goodies but to limit them and discipline myself. Instead of 5 cookies to eat 2 and then put the darn box out of sight or better yet, buy just one indv. larger cookie. Then there isn't anymore when that is gone...no temptation! Looking forward to the new foodie direction your blog is headed. Have a fab even if it's a wet wknd :)
My husband drools for bread pudding. I will bookmark this recipe for him to make...looks delish!
My grandmother and mother both made bread pudding and it is one of my favorite "home-style" desserts, the other being apple crisp.
Yum. :-)
Pearl
I love your recipes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!
LoL @ Diane's comment.
I have never had bread pudding!!
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