On Saturday night friends and I had great fun at a Murder Mystery Dinner – themed Mardi Gras.  This is a dinner where everyone brings a different dish, and my contribution was N’awlins Bread Pudding.  I estimate the calories at a gazillion and the carbs at 2 gazillion, so I changed the original recipe to cut down (a little) since it has a pretty outrageous ingredient list.

I made the recipe below and there was plenty for the 16 or so people attending.  If I were making is just for dinner I’d probably cut it down by at least half.

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N’awlins Bread Pudding

8 cups stale bread (1 medium loaf)
-  I didn’t remember to let it go stale so took fresh bread and toasted it

1 cup peanut butter chips

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips

1 cup chopped nuts

1 cup shredded coconut

½ cup dried cherries

1 ¼  cups sugar

2 cups skim milk

3/4 cups heavy cream

1 ¼ cups light cream

3 eggs

8 tablespoons melted light  butter

2 teaspoon pumpkin spice

2 tablespoons vanilla extract

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WHISKEY SAUCE (makes 1 cup sauce)

1/2 cup light butter

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 egg yolk

1/2 cup bourbon (any)

Directions

Combine all ingredients in large bowl.
Pour into a buttered 9×13 inch baking dish  or two 8″ square pans.
Place on middle rack in non-preheated oven.
Bake at 350°F for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the top is golden-brown.

When the bread pudding is done baking, prepare the WHISKEY SAUCE.
Heat butter and sugar over medium heat until all the butter is absorbed.
Remove from heat and blend in egg yolk.
Pour in bourbon gradually to taste, stirring constantly.
Sauce will thicken as it cools.
Serve warm over bread pudding.

***BOURBON NOTES: Using Jack Daniels will result in a stronger taste, whereas Southern Comfort will give you a sweeter taste.  (I used the cheapest I could find it was still very good.)

The original recipe can be had at Recipe Zaar.

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The Importance of Being Earnest Silly

Yesterday I had brunch (all day) with friends to plan our next murder mystery dinner party.  The theme is Mardi Gras so of course we had to try on some masks to get in the mood!  Much laughter, creative fun and silliness later we had come up with enough characters to stretch a boxed party planner game meant for 8 to instead cover up to 16 people.  During the day it struck me many many times how important it is to be silly and have fun and laughter, particularly in these dark days of winter.  So when setting your priority list of things to do, consider putting Silliness high on the list.  Need some inspiration?  Here are some pics and a fantastic quiche recipe to help you drop that frown line between your eyes!

Seafood Quiche

Saute 2 tbl onions in 4 tbl butter for 1 or 2 mins

add 1 cup chopped cooked shellfish (we had Maine shrimp – yum)

Cook 2 mins w/salt and pepper

Add 2 tbl dry vermouth

Raise heat and cook a minute.  Cool slightly.  Beat 3 eggs with 1 cup whipping cream, 1/2 teas salt, pepper.

Add dash of Ketchup and 3 drops tobasco sauce.

Gradually blend in fish mixture  and add steamed asparagus cut up to bite size pieces.  Put all in 10″ uncooked pie shell.  Top with 1/4 cup (or more) of grated cheddar or swiss (or both)

Bake at 375 until done.  See more options from the cook in comment below.

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