Grandma's Apple Raisin Bread Pudding

Spring may be the season of love with all the birds and bees stuff but I love the romantic flavors of Autumn. Apples, pears, raisins, cinnamon and clove, pumpkin and squash all ticking the senses to inspire warmth and love. To share my love of the season with my family, I've turned to a favorite recipe of Gram's. Growing up on a farm during the early 1900's she learned at an early age to utilize whatever you have on hand and turn it into something delicious. Over the years she tweaked her recipes for us "modern folk" but they never lost the ingredient of love.

Grandma's Apple Raisin Bread Pudding

Preheat oven 350 degrees            Grease a 7x11" baking dish

Ingredients:

4 cups bread cubes (I pick up a loaf of bakery bread from the "day old shelf", cut into cubes then leave them on a cookie sheet overnight)

¼ cup raisins

2 cups peeled and sliced apples

1 cup brown sugar

1 ¾ cup milk

¼ cup butter (1/2 stick)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon vanilla

* In a large bowl, combine bread, raisins and apples

* In a small sauce pan over medium heat, combine 1c brown sugar, 1/24 c milk and 1/4 c butter (1/2 stick). Cook and stir until butter is melted.

* Pour over bread mixture. Blend gently then pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.

*In a small bowl whisk together the cinnamon, vanilla and eggs. Pour over the bread mixture.

*Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until center is set and apples are tender.

While pudding is baking, make the Vanilla Sauce.

¼ cup white sugar

¼ cup brown sugar

½ cup milk

½ cup butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

OPTIONAL:  1 teaspoon – 1 Tablespoon bourbon or whiskey, I like to add ¼ cup of powdered sugar to thicken

Mix the white and brown sugars with the milk and butter in a small sauce pan. Bring to boil then remove from heat. Add the vanilla (and the optional ingredients). 

Serve over pudding.

The orgasmic flavor and the look on your honey's face once this amazing dish touches the pallet is soooo worth it!!!