Challah Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Drizzled with a warm bourbon sauce, this dessert is oh-so-comforting!
Ingredients:
4 cups slightly stale Challah bread with crusts, cut into ½-inch pieces
4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup pecans, toasted, chopped
For bourbon sauce:
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup sugar
3 tablespoons whipping cream
2 tablespoons bourbon
Pinch of salt
Method:
1. Butter an 8-inch square baking dish. Whisk the eggs, milk, whipping cream, sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a medium bowl. Place the bread chunks and pecans in the prepared dish. Pour the milk mixture over and let stand 5 minutes. Push down bread into custard. Refrigerate for 2 hours, pushing bread into custard occasionally.
2. Preheat oven to 375°. Place the bread pudding in a large metal baking pan. Add enough water to baking pan to come 1 inch up the sides of the dish with bread pudding. Bake until pudding is puffed and golden brown on top, approximately 50 minutes.
3. While pudding is cooking, prepare the sauce: Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Simmer until thickened, whisking often, about 3 minutes. Cool slightly.
4. Remove dish with bread pudding from water and cool slightly. Cut into squares. Serve bread pudding warm with sauce.
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Sweet Italian Sausage & Orzo Ribollita
This spin on the classic Italian soup features puttanesca sauce, orzo pasta and toasted Pomodoro bread.
Ingredients:
¼ cup olive oil, plus additional for drizzling over the bread
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, 1 minced and 1 whole
1 quart Nonna Pat’s puttanesca sauce
3 cups chicken stock
1 3-inch Parmesan cheese rind
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons combined fresh thyme leaves and chopped parsley
1 bunch Lacinato kale, greens removed from ribs and torn into bite-sized pieces
½ cup orzo pasta
4-6 slices pomodoro loaf
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Parmesan cheese, for serving
Method:
1. Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, sausage and minced garlic. Cook, crumbling the sausage into small pieces, until the onion is golden brown and the sausage is cooked through, about 7 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper.
2. Add the puttanesca sauce and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to release all the brown bits. Add the chicken stock, bay leaf, herbs and Parmesan rind. Bring the soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, then add the orzo and kale, and simmer an additional 10 minutes or until the orzo is cooked and kale is wilted.
3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°. Drizzle the sliced pomodoro bread with olive oil. Toast until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and rub the top of the toasts with the whole garlic clove. Place the toasts in the serving bowls and ladle the soup over the toasts. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve immediately.
Variation: In leiu of the pomodoro bread, free free to sub in the sourdough dinner rolls crafted from this week’s starter!
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Apple Bread Pudding
This delightful bread pudding is equally good at brunch as it is for dessert!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
6 cups ½-inch-cubed Challah bread (about half a 15-ounce loaf)
3 medium apples, peeled, cored and diced
6 eggs
1½ cups cream
1½ cups milk
2 tablespoons honey
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Powdered sugar, for dusting
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Butter a 2-quart baking dish. Toss the cubed bread and apples in a large bowl, and then arrange them evenly in the dish.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs, cream, milk, honey, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the liquid mixture over the bread and apples. Refrigerate for about 2 hours.
3. Put the baking dish in a larger metal roasting pan. Pour hot water into the roasting pan until it comes about 1 inch up the side of the baking dish. Bake until the pudding is firm and the top is golden brown, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool slightly, dust with powdered sugar and serve.
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Rhubarb Bread Pudding
A springtime take on classic bread pudding!
Ingredients:
8 slices Challah bread, lightly toasted and cut into ½-inch cubes
4 cups chopped rhubarb
1½ cups milk
4 tablespoons butter
5 eggs
1½ cups sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup pecans, chopped (optional)
Method:
1. Put bread cubes in a greased 2 quart casserole.
2. Melt butter with milk in a saucepan. Pour over bread and let sit 15 minutes.
3. Mix together the eggs, sugar, salt and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Stir in rhubarb, then add the entire mixture to the bread mixture.
4. Top with brown sugar and pecans (if using). Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes, or until set. Serve warm.
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Pear Sauce
This lovely sauce is amazing on top of freshly-baked scones, or enjoyed with your morning oatmeal.
Ingredients:
4-6 D’Anjou pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
Method:
1. Combine pears, water, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and vanilla in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pears have softened, about 20 minutes.
2. Use an immersion blender to process the pear sauce until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier sauce, mash with a potato masher. (You can also transfer the cooked pear mixture to a food processor or blender to process, just make sure the pear sauce has cooled down first.)
3. Once the pear sauce has cooled down, pour into glass or plastic containers. Cover and store in the refrigerator, sauce will keep in the fridge for one week.
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Challah Bread French Toast
This lovely and light French toast is wonderful topped with syrup, berry jam, or confectioner’s sugar.
Ingredients:
1 large loaf Challah bread
2 eggs
1½ cups milk
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ teaspoon smoked cinnamon
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
Unsalted butter
Vegetable oil
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 250°.
2. In a large shallow bowl or pan, whisk together the eggs, milk, orange zest, vanilla, smoked cinnamon, honey and salt. Slice the Challah in ¾-inch thick slices. Soak the slices in the egg mixture for 5 minutes, turning once.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a very large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven. Fry the remaining soaked bread slices, adding butter and oil as needed.
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Rustic Challah Bread, Mushroom & Herb Dressing
Fragrant with fresh herbs and accented by toasted Challah bread and meaty mushrooms, this stuffing is always a hit!
Ingredients:
1 large loaf challah (about 1 pound)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for buttering baking dishes
2 cups yellow onion, diced (from 2 medium onions)
2 cups celery, diced
2 cups wild mushrooms, diced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
½ teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
1½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
3 cups chicken, turkey or vegetable broth
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 300° and set an oven rack in the middle position. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
2. Cut the challah into 1-inch cubes and spread in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for about 25 minutes, or until dry and lightly toasted. Set aside. Increase the oven temperature to 350°.
3. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan. Cook the onions over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent. Add the celery, mushrooms, herbs, salt, and pepper and cook until celery is slightly softened, about 5 minutes more.
4. In a large bowl, combine the toasted bread cubes, onion/vegetable mixture, and chicken broth and toss well. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish. Cover the dish with buttered foil and refrigerate until ready to bake (up to overnight).
5. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until golden, about 25 minutes more. Serve immediately.
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Peach Habanero-Garlic Hot Sauce
This spicy hot sauce is made with fiery roasted peppers and plenty of garlic, ideal for spicing up your favorite foods.
Ingredients:
6-8 habanero peppers, stemmed and halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup water (for thinning the sauce to your preferred consistency)
4 cups white vinegar
20 garlic cloves, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar or to taste
3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
½ cup lime juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Set peppers on a baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until soft and skins begin to blister.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large pot to medium heat and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until onion and garlic soften. Add roasted peppers and simmer for about 5 minutes.
3. Transfer mixture to a food processor and puree until smooth. Alternatively, use an immersion blender and puree directly in the pot. Return to the pot and simmer for another 5-10 minutes. Serve, or strain into sterilized bottles until ready to use.
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Vanilla Bean French Toast
Prep this fragrant French toast the night before, and then bake it in the oven right before brunch—easy, peasy!
Ingredients:
1 loaf cinnamon bread, cut into 1-inch slices
6 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups half-and-half
¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
½ cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter, plus more for greasing
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Fresh berries and confectioner’s sugar, for topping
Method:
1. Preheat an oven to 425°. Butter or grease the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Set aside, Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Toast until the bread is lightly golden brown and dry, about 7 minutes, flipping the slices about halfway through the cooking time. Transfer the bread slices to a wire rack and let cool to room temperature.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, brown sugar, lemon zest and a pinch of salt. With the tip of a paring knife, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean halves into the egg mixture and whisk to combine; reserve the vanilla bean halves. In batches, dip the bread slices into the egg mixture, turning the slices to coat them evenly and letting the bread sit in the bowl for about 2 minutes to absorb the liquid. Arrange the bread slices in the prepared baking dish, overlapping them slightly. Pour any remaining egg mixture in the bowl evenly over the bread in the dish. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
3. To bake, preheat the oven to 350°. Transfer the dish, still covered with the foil, to the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover the dish, increase the oven temperature to 375° and continue baking until the French toast is puffed up and browned, about 15 minutes more. While the French toast is cooking, in a small saucepan over low heat, combine the maple syrup and the 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted, about 4 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. To serve, pour the maple syrup mixture evenly over the French toast. Garnish with the reserved vanilla bean halves, if desired, and serve with berries and a dusting of confectioner’s sugar.
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Garlic-Ginger Beef & Vegetable Stir-Fry
Serve this fragrant stir-fry with rice or noodles; we also love topping each serving with a fried egg and extra hot sauce.
Ingredients:
½ cup soy sauce
½ cup hoisin sauce
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons freshly-grated ginger
1- 2 tablespoons Sun Sauce or Sriracha (optional)
1 pound stir-fry beef, thinly-sliced
2 tablespoons sesame oil or vegetable oil
8 ounces mushrooms, such as a mix of Cremini and Shiitake, washed and sliced if very large
1 bunch broccolini, trimmed of any tough ends
1 bunch Senposai greens
1 Lotus root, peeled, trimmed of root ends and thinly-sliced into rounds
1 yellow onion, cut into slices
1 bunch scallions, trimmed of root ends and minced
Method:
1. In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger and Sun Sauce until combined.
2. Put the beef slices in a plastic baggie or bowl. Pour ¼ cup of the garlic-ginger sauce over the pork and mix to coat evenly. Marinate at least 1 hour or overnight in the fridge. Place remaining garlic-ginger sauce in the fridge as well.
3. In a large skillet over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the sesame or vegetable oil and the pork. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the pork from the skillet and set aside.
4. In the same skillet add the other tablespoon of oil and add all the prepped vegetables and greens. Cook 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the pork and remaining garlic-ginger sauce. Cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Serve with scallions and sesame seeds on top, if desired.
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