#81) Cinnamon Bread Pudding

Do you love food?

I love food. I love food so much that I really, truly hate to see any be wasted.

That's why bread pudding is such an awesome sweet treat - a real "recycler recipe" :) It lets you use up stale bread that would otherwise end up in the trash and you can dress it up with whatever fix-ins you have in the cupboard (chocolate chips, dried fruit, bananas)!

For this bread pudding I used some homemade raisin bread (compliments of my mother-in-law) and some whiskey left behind from a recent girls' night.

I made the dessert for a small potluck with some of the girls and it was a hit. Although I found it a tad too sweet, the pudding was rich and the sauce was gooey and delicious - sounds like a great dessert to me :)

What are your favourite "recycler recipes"?

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Bread Pudding

Ingredients

3 cups stale cinnamon raisin bread, torn into bite-size pieces
3/4 cups milk (I used skim)
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar (could easily use 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup brown sugar (could easily use 1/4 cup)
1 tbsp molasses
1/2 tbsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Steps

-Set aside bread.

-Whisk together milk, eggs, sugars, molasses, vanilla, and cinnamon.

-Add bread and stir to coat. Let sit for 20 minutes.

-Preheat oven to 350oF.

-Butter 6 muffin cups.

-Divide mixture between 6 muffin cups.

-Bake for 15-20 minutes until custard has set. (A kinfe should come out almost clean)

-Let cool slightly in cups before serving.


Whiskey Caramel Sauce

Ingredients

2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 oz whiskey
1/4 cup evaporated milk or heavy cream

Steps

-Melt butter and sugar over medium heat.

-Add whiskey and let cook off for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

-Slowly add milk/cream, stirring constantly. Cook over low-medium heat for another 5 minutes. (I made mine ahead of time and as it sit in the pot it got thicker)

#57) Hawaiian Drops

This, boys and girls, is my new baking reality - no dairy, no fat, no yolk.... BUT, please don't feel bad for me because these cookies were awesome!!! Jam-packed with pineapple and raisins, the texture was soft and chewy, and with combo of brown sugar, honey, and maple syrup, the flavour had many layers and left me wanting more every time I took a bite.... I have to say, these new restrictions don't seem to be too hard to deal with, my only issue is the change in the texture of my sweet treats, but I am sure I will get used to that... And better yet, now my treats are healthier so I can eat more of 'em, right? :)

Ingredients

1/4 cup flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 egg whites
1/4 cup applesauce
3 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup pineapple, crushed with juice

Steps

-Preheat oven to 350°F and grease or line a cookie sheet.
-Mix together dry ingredients. Set aside.
-Beat egg whites to stiff peaks. Add applesauce, syrup, and honey. Mix well.
-Stir in raisins and pineapple.
-Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and let sit for 10 minutes.
-Spoon onto sheet by tablespoonful and bake for 20 minutes.
-Let cool on wire rack.