Bread Pudding With Mezcal Marinated Dried Fruits Food

MEZCAL STALK

Steps:

• Spread some worm salt on a small plate. Moisten the rim of a short glass with water; dip in the worm salt. Fill with ice.
• Combine the mezcal, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice and agave in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with the dried pineapple and pineapple leaf.

THE BEST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
• Toast the bread cubes on a baking sheet until they start to dry and harden, about 20 minutes. Set aside. Raise the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Whisk together the cream, milk, sugar, vanilla bean seeds, salt, cinnamon, eggs and yolks in a large bowl. Add the bread to the bowl and stir until completely coated. Cover and let soak for 30 minutes, pushing the bread down occasionally so that it is completely covered.
• Pour the bread mixture into the prepared baking dish. Microwave the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small microwave-safe dish until melted, about 1 minute. Drizzle the butter over top of the custard and then sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Bake until the custard is set and the top is golden brown, 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SLOW COOKED WINTER BREAD PUDDING WITH DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• If bread is not stale: Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet and cook until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, whiskey, vanilla, salt and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Toss bread cubes and dried fruit together and place into the slow cooker. Pour custard over top and press down lightly until all bread is covered with custard.
• Cover and cook on LOW until pudding puffs and is just set, about 3 1/2 hours. Remove insert from the slow cooker and cool on a rack, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon pudding into large cups or bowls and sprinkle each serving with cinnamon sugar, and toasted nuts. Top with whipped cream or yogurt, if desired.

PECAN AND DRIED FRUIT NOODLE PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a pot of boiling salted water cook the egg noodles until they are al dente. Drain, refresh under cold water and drain again. Transfer to a large bowl.
• In a bowl whisk together the egg yolks, butter, all but 2 tablespoons of the sugar, the sour cream and the vanilla.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the whites until they form soft peaks. Add the remaining sugar and beat to firm peaks. Fold the whites into the yolk mixture and fold into the noodles In a buttered shallow baking dish layer the noodles, walnuts, jam and raisins and apricots. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly golden.

QUEEN'S BREAD PUDDING WITH COLD FRUIT "SOUP"

Steps:

• Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter. Spread the cubed baked goods evenly in the prepared baking dish. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it is scalding. In a separate small saucepan, heat the apricots and cranberries with the liqueur (or water) and let simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the dried fruits begin to soften. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the hot milk, a small amount at a time, to the egg mixture and whisk together (known as a liaison) to temper the mixture by combining gently and gradually without cooking the eggs. Spread the apricots and raisins evenly over the bread in the baking dish, the pour the liaison into the baking dish, distributing evenly.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Let the baking dish stand for about 20 minutes to allow the liquid to absorb into the cubed baked goods.
• Prepare a bain marie by placing the baking dish into a larger pan or dish, placing the arrangement into the preheated oven, and then pouring hot water into the outer dish (without splashing any into the custard dish). Bake until the pudding firms up and puffs up and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and from water bath and let rest 10 minutes. Serve warm or cooled.
• While the bread pudding is baking, prepare the cold fruit soup. To a blender add strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peeled banana, peach and lemon juice. Blend until smooth and strain into a bowl. Return strained fruit to blender and add softened frozen yogurt, blending to combine. Serve as a topping to the Queen's Bread Custard, in demitasse cups as an accompaniment, or by itself as an independent dessert soup.

FRUIT AND NUT BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine bread and sugar. Set aside. In another bowl, beat eggs, milk, cinnamon, salt and vanilla until foamy. Pour over bread and sugar; mix well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours. , Stir in all remaining ingredients except cream. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until firm. Cut into squares. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream if desired.