Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

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It's Sunday morning in November. I'm in my underwear watching Hello Dolly on Netflix for the 1000th time since my 8th grade choir teacher gave me my first hit of broadway musical based movies (the gateway drug for so many young gay men), and binge eating a Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding I whipped up because one does not waste a donut. Plus once the donut is used in a capacity other than traditional donut consumption it becomes a legit meal. So eating 10 donuts in one sitting isn't bad because you really just ate a big meal. 

I had a very productive Saturday so this moment of Sunday Self Care doesn't riddle me with guilt. 

Yesterday I found myself traversing the North Carolina country side with two neighbors. First hitting a craft fair that was small at best but large enough the local sheriff had been commissioned to direct traffic in and out of the field turned parking lot. Naturally we ran into someone we know while perusing the monogramed coozies and holiday wreaths made of shell casings. Yes, you heard me. Shell casings. The more you know. 

We then found ourselves attempting to get a meal in a town housing the self proclaimed "World's Largest Chair". Oddly no establishments were taking credit or debit cards. Again you heard me, "establishments", plural. Multiple places were tried. So we move on back to our debit/credit accepting home of Winston-Salem.

WHERE WE HAD OUR TAROT CARDS READ!!!

For two years the neighbors and I have been threatening to get our cards read by the local readers down on main street. And yesterday was the day. 

In the back room of a crystal and incense laden boutique, behind a curtain and on a gold velvet settee we found ourselves listening intently as Cat, our reader de jour, gave insight to our spiritual sides. 

Not shockingly she had to stop mid reading of my cards because my hot mess of a life left conflicting messages within her cards. Thankfully she rallied, composed herself, and sent me on the way with direction for the future. 

Who needs a shrink when you have Cat?

Back to bread pudding and Babs.

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding

Serves 10-12

ingredients

2 Tablespoons Butter; Room Temperature, for baking dish

10 Classic Krispy Kreme Donuts; after having sat out overnight

3 Cups Half-and-Half

4 Large Eggs

1/2 Cup Sugar

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare glass baking dish by coating bottom and sides with butter.

2. Cut all donuts into 1-inch pieces and place in prepared baking dish. Set aside.

3. In medium mixing bowl combine Half-and-Half, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until well combined and sugar has dissolved.

4. Carefully pour liquid mixture over cut up donuts.

5. Place baking dish in larger baking dish and add enough boiling water to reach halfway up side of smaller baking dish. Bake until custard is set 2 to 3 inches from edge but still trembles in the middle, about 50-55 minutes. Custard will continue to set as it cools. Best served warm. But also just as delicious, cold, directly out of the baking dish while binging on Netflix.

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FOR MORE SOUTHERN AND BREAKFAST SHENANIGANS CHECK THESE OUT!

SUPPER SLUTS DOES BRUNCH

PUPPY CHOW AND SOUTHERN LIVING

FRIED SWEET GRITS AND CUSSING

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Toasted Bread And Butter Pudding

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Toasted Bread and Butter Pudding

It's a gloomy day here in The South. And though I went for my daily anger run on the treadmill and was bullied (with love), by my dear friend Fitness Instructor to attend her morning class, I still found myself unhinging for a fundraising hot dog for lunch.

Hours later I again found myself needing a feeding. So before I slipped into a shame spiral of Netflix viewing for the evening I continued my quest to use only what I have on hand. Have you figured out how lazy I am when it comes to grocery shopping? And to think I used to do it for a living. 

The end result was bread pudding. Folks down this way love their bread pudding. And on more than one occasion I have heard the harsh whisper of "it's good, but it's not my momma's". And since my momma didn't make bread pudding growing up I went to one of my books of worship and asked one of our chosen people for inspiration. 

Ruth came through (not Biblical Ruth - though I image she has a good kugel recipe or two up her robe). 

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Toasted Bread And Butter Pudding

Recipe from The Gourmet Cookbook by Ruth Reichl

ingredients

3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, well softened

12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices challah or firm white sandwich bread

3 cups half-and-half

4 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

instructions

Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 3-quart shallow baking dish.

Butter both sides of bread and arrange in one layer on a large baking sheet. Bake, turning once, until lightly toasted, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool on a rack. (Leaving oven on.)

Whisk together half-and-half, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl until sugar is dissolved. Halve toasted bread slices diagonally and arrange triangles in rows, overlapping slightly, in buttered baking dish. Pour custard evenly over toast and let stand for 15 minutes.

Put baking dish in a larger baking pan and add enough boiling water to reach halfway up sides of baking dish. Bake until custard is set 2 to 3 inches from edges but still trembles in center, 50 to 60 minutes (custard will continue to set as it cools). Serve warm.

***notes on recipe: I used a cubed brioche in place of challah. Topped with mixed berry compote.

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Dating Dylan McDermott, Drunk Baking and Dramatic Jew-motional Eating

Hello Jackson - If you need a shoulder to cry on...I am here. Just take what wedding ring off.

Well this week flew by - after a whirlwind trip up North and a full week in the sock factory I find myself having to get ready to get back on the road for work. And with Passover approaching next week I have food on the mind. Passover is the food best-t-est holiday the Jews have. I mean Thanksgivinukkah was amazing but Passover involves a lot of booze. However it does involve not eating leavened bread. So guess who has been Jew-motional bread eating for a few days? This Jew. That's Jew.  

This got me thinking...as I am cleaning out the pantry before I go on yet another sojourn south of The Mason-Dixon I want to get rid of some cheese - Grilled Cheese for dinner and probably a bad movie on Netflix. And because I am not going be here to cook for Passover I decided to use some left over croissants in the southern classic of Bread Pudding. With a Jew twist of course.

Considering I have to spend a lot of upcoming time getting my Steel Magnolia's on, tonight is going to be spent eating - this is a food blog so that shouldn't surprise you.  Excuse me while I go all Diabetic Shelby on this...

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Steel Magnolia Jewish Non Kosher Passover Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

(adapted from the internet and my emotional needs) 2014

INGREDIENTS FOR BREAD PUDDING

Butter (to coat baking dish)

2 Eggs

2/3 C Brown Sugar

2 C Heavy Cream

1/4 t Kosher Salt

3/4 lb Croissants (or about 5 medium croissants); torn into pieces

3 Sheet Matzos; crumbled

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BREAD PUDDING

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x9 baking dish with butter. In large bowl toss together croissant and matzos pieces. Layer non Passover Kosher bread and matzos into the buttered baking dish.

In medium bowl place eggs, brown sugar, heavy cream and salt. Whisk together. Once completely whisked, pour egg mixture over the bread. Let sit for 30 mins while the croissants and matzos soak up the goodness.

Place baking dish in oven and bake for 40-50 mins or until golden fluffy and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

INGREDIENTS FOR WHISKEY SAUCE

1/2 C Brown Sugar

1 Stick Unsalted Butter

1/2 C Heavy Cream

1/4 C Whiskey + 2 fingers of Whiskey for sampling and baking aid

INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHISKEY SAUCE

Mix all ingredients into heavy bottomed saucepan and bring to low boil while whisking slowly together. If needed take a sip of excess whiskey. Once fully incorporated finish off extra whiskey and set aside to serve with bread pudding.

I'll be in the corner crying for that poor baby of Shelby's. I mean how horrible to be raised by Dylan McDermott. I mean it's horrible because, as kin, they cannot date. I thank God everyday that I am not related to Dylan McDermott so when the time comes I will be able to date him. Date him so hard.  

Love and kisses.  

One more thing! If you enjoy reading this every week ( and I know at least 8 of you do ) please consider following my blog using the email sign up in the upper right corner of the page. Those special people get first word of my genius work.  

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