Showing posts with label walnuts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label walnuts. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Bread pudding is morning glory muffin wannabe


In a creative frame of mind? We had fun today making up a bread pudding version of our favorite breakfast goodie, the Morning Glory Muffin. We took a basic recipe and ran with it, adding golden raisins, coconut, grated carrots, pecans, sunflower seeds, and spices to some leftover whole wheat bread made with honey and oatmeal. We’d made the bread the other day from a recipe in the King Arthur Whole Grain Baking cookbook. (And trust me, this bread is so good, that not much is EVER left over. I’ll post the bread recipe tomorrow in the My Favorite Bread Recipes section of this blog.)

If I say so myself (no modesty genes kicking in here…), this is one of the very best bread puddings I’ve ever had. Do you hear an echo? Have I said this before? You betcha! I plan to enjoy it for dessert tonight, and there’s a good chance I’ll munch on it with my morning coffee tomorrow.

Ingredient details: You can use whatever kind of milk or cream you have on hand. I used one percent milk, and believe it or not, the results were incredibly rich. I’d suggest using a dense bread for this recipe, rather than a soft commercial bread, for a more muffin-like texture.

MORNING GLORY BREAD PUDDING

2 slices dense whole wheat bread or oatmeal bread, buttered and cubed (1-1/2 to 2 cups)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup peeled and grated carrots
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
2 large eggs
1-1/2 cups milk
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Dash salt

In greased or cooking-sprayed 1-1/2-quart baking dish (or square glass pan) combine bread cubes, raisins, coconut, chopped nuts, grated carrots, and sunflower seeds. In medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk. Add brown sugar, vanilla, spices, and salt; whisk to combine. Pour over bread mixture and press bread down into liquid. Let stand while you preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until pudding is set. Serves 6 to 9, depending on size of portions. Top with cream cheese icing if desired, or whipped topping of choice.
(Recipe developed by Portia Little © 2009)

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Kentucky Derby bread pudding is the favorite




“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” occurs today as twenty horses leave the gates for the 134th Kentucky derby. And, while some fans of this Run for the Roses will be sipping mint juleps, in our house we’ll be chomping down on a rich bread pudding, laden with chocolate and chopped walnuts.

This pudding is a take-off on the traditonal Derby Pie, which is almost as famous in Kentucky as the Kentucky Derby itself. And while chopped walnuts and bourbon are featured in the standard versions, some also contain chocolate, which without a doubt we had to include.

Baked in a standard glass pie pan, this pudding puffed up nicely while baking, and the chocolate chips melted to a sensuous gooey texture. Now it’s out of the oven and the house smells like a chocolate factory. We plan to cut generous wedges of this luscious “pie” and serve topped with a rich vanilla ice cream.

This one’s for Kas Winters in Arizona, a fan of chocolate if there ever was one. She runs a delightful and informative website,
www.winmarkcom.com, which is loaded with family ideas and projects as well as some great gifts – it’s a winner every day.

KENTUCKY DERBY BREAD PUDDING

3 to 4 slices bread, cubed
Cooking spray
1/4 cup butter, melted
1-1/4 cups chocolate chips (or more if you’d like)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup whole milk
3/4 cup half & half or heavy cream
3 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon bourbon

Scatter bread cubes in 9- or 10-inch glass pie plate that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Toss bread cubes with melted butter. Sprinkle on chocolate chips and walnuts. In saucepan, heat milk/cream until just about scalding. In large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Slowly add hot liquid to egg mixture, stirring constantly; mix in bourbon. Pour liquid over bread mixture.

Let stand about 15 minutes for bread to absorb liquid. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake 45-60 minutes, or until pudding puffs up and browns on top. Serve warm or at room temp with a big glob of vanilla bean ice cream. Serves 8.
© 2008, Recipe by Portia Little.