Rainy Day Bread Pudding

I just called it Rainy Day Bread Pudding because it's a rainy day here today and it seemed like the perfect day for some nice, warm bread pudding!! This is super easy and so rich and warm and delicious - great by itself or with some vanilla ice cream on top!



Rainy Day Bread Pudding

16 slices white bread, cut into cubes
1/3 C. melted butter
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
8 eggs, beaten
3/4 C. white sugar
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
1.5 T. vanilla extract
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 C. orange juice
5 C. scalded whole milk (I scald mine in the microwave for 8 minutes on high)
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 9x13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine bread, melted butter, and cinnamon - mix well, then pour into baking pan. Beat together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt, and orange juice. Add milk, stirring well to avoid cooking the eggs. Mix well, then pour over the bread. Sprinkle nutmeg over the top. Let sit for a couple minutes, then bake for 35 minutes or until knife inserted to middle comes out clean. Let sit for 5-10 minutes before cutting (if you can resist - I have a hard time waiting!!).

You could also add raisins, dried cranberries - pretty much any dried fruit you wanted - or some cooked cinnamon apples would also be good. Also, you can omit the orange juice if you don't have any - I just had it on hand and it adds a nice touch of extra flavor, but it's certainly not necessary. Finally, you could use lower fat milk...we have whole milk in the house since Makayla's starting to drink some, and it gives the pudding a richer taste...but if you're trying to cut some fat and calories, you can certainly use a lower fat milk.

Enjoy!

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Oh - and I realized that I sort of left you all hanging with the possibility of rib fractures. I updated Twitter, but never did an actual blog post. Turns out the radiologist reviewed the x-rays and there are no anterior rib fractures. This still does not clear up the mystery of what the swelling and bruising is on her back, however. The surgeon saw her on Monday and still thinks it's a pressure wound from the shoulder roll they placed under her during surgery. She sees the pediatrician tomorrow, so we'll be asking more questions.

In the meantime, she is still running fevers - 100.1 this morning. She is drinking much better, but still not eating well. She is very cranky and cries a LOT. She is starting to sleep some in her bed, for naps and starts the night out in her bed, but still ends up in our bed, and is very restless in her sleep. It's hard to know if she's in pain, or what's really going on. Keep sending healing prayers!!