And Cuddle Duds, a must when you live in the north! But I digress...
Yesterday's cold came mid-day but even then some schools closed down for the day because they couldn't have kids walking home in -20 wind chills.
(Mind you, we didn't know about wind chill when I was a kid, and yes, I walked to school every day, so did all the kids.... and when it was cold we bundled up and walked to school like the Michelin man ... Waddle.... waddle.... waddle....
But now we know when wind chills are coming and this one is a solid force so bread pudding seemed like a nice thing to bake.
THIS IS A SIMPLE RECIPE.
This is our standard Vanilla Bread Pudding which is a misnomer because it has vanilla in it... but it also has cinnamon and nutmeg, so it's a match made in heaven for fall and winter. I usually have some stale bread around... this is a loaf of a favorite "Texas Toast" (MINDY!!!!) a really nice, thick-cut bread with great texture for toast or French Toast. It was in Beth's freezer for a long time so they donated it to the cause. And I made sure it didn't have freezer-taste.... (wrinkles nose)... no freezer-funk in our bread pudding!
Here we go!
VANILLA SPICE BREAD PUDDING
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Put about 1" of hot water into a large baking pan, large enough to "cradle" your pudding dish. I used an 11" x 15" pan and then an 11" x 7" pan for the bread pudding. Perfect fit! The goal of the water is to add steam while you're baking the pudding.... but also to keep the bottom from getting overdone.
6 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, or 1/2 of a grated nutmeg
Whisk all of these together thoroughly.
Add 1 1/2 cups of milk. Whisk again.
Cut pieces of bread (I like to use the crusts, too) into small cubes, like stuffing bread size. Add to custard mix carefully... Don't mash or whisk, fold gently to hold the bread's shape...
This is too liquidy for me, so I cut up three more slices of bread. I like my bread pudding on the dry side, not oozie.....
BETTER!!! :)
Now it goes into the 11" x 7" pan... which then gets tucked into it's big brother pan.... and we bake at 325 degrees until firm.... Ovens vary and so do baking pans, and a dryer pudding takes a little longer, so just relax, have some tea or coffee and let the bread pudding bake.... It smells marvelous!
Artwork by Lena:
So it's cold here, and we heat with wood... which works 95% of the time.
MY FEET ARE SO COLD and I have two pairs of socks on. And one is wool..... but the floor in the kitchen and entry is icy!
This is when I get all that wonderful respect for prairie women. Remember Laura Ingalls talking about the thick frost above their beds and how their breath froze????
I am saving my quiet money for a new heating system.
#musthaveheat
#cozyisnice
#threedognight
Three dog night was an old saying in Alaska and parts north, that on the coldest night you slept with three dogs around you to keep you warm enough. You know what I think of???
Dog breath.
Me and three dogs with dog breath.
Nope.
Give me central heat and call me spoiled. :)
I'm okay with that!
So how are you dealing with the cold? Or are you like me and we just kind of shrug it off and figure it's January... some days are colder than others... and it's kind of been that way right along!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Most of the time.
