Tag: brandy

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make some truly fab bread pudding

"....... resistance is futile!" CLICK on the picture for the recipe

I’ve resisted for as long as I could… actually months! The problem is that real bread pudding is one of my all time favorite desserts! When I first started the evolution of my own recipe, I studied all of the recipes from hundred plus year old cookbooks, restaurants and internet chefs and home chefs. The problem is that in virtually every case… there were unacceptable short cuts.

From the use of butter, eggs,  heavy cream, brandy, rum and rye whiskey to the various breads and cakes all topped with an exquisite sauce and various nuts… it is a wonderful holiday treat! Fortunately, I believe everyday is a holiday! 😉  If you really want to make something nice… it takes time, care, quality ingredients and a variety that makes it interesting. BREAD PUDDING

So I have my fruit ( dried blueberries, sultanas and 3 scraped vanilla beans) all soaking in their favorite alcoholic mixture… until I need them…. in a week or so.

One bite is way too much… and a million is not enough!

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bread pudding is an improvisational recipe

dad's bread pudding

There was a time that people had the ability to add and subtract in their head, eye ball a construction project with beautiful results, paint without numbers and create something wonderful. However, everyone can recapture those long lost abilities and cooking skills by simply viewing most things including recipes as ‘guidelines.’

My grandmother was brilliant in the kitchen and she would tell me that cookbooks are ‘useful’ and help to ‘spark an idea’, but were really only ‘guidelines.’  This time in my bread pudding, I used banana nut muffins, croissants, and french bread as the base. This is why a bread pudding can be wonderfully different every time!

I believe all ‘Bread Puddings’  were really only a catch all dessert bound together by eggs, infused with fruit and cream, and covered with a yummy sauce. One nice feature of my bread puddings is that they reconstitute very well. Left over sections can be placed into a container covered with sauce and they microwave back to life beautifully!

So here’s the recipe... make it for someone you love.

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for a birthday, the meal must be special

Nothing calls to home more than Scandinavian Meatballs!

One of the nicest traditions I have observed is serving the person with a birthday the meal they most desire. It is nice to go out to dine, but something made at home has always been my favorite. Well, my birthday is coming up in a week or so, and since I could have anything I wanted, I wanted to make it myself. Some of you may not think that is a real good birthday present, but for me, preparing something special is fun…. even if it is on my birthday. Besides, much of what I am thinking about can be made the day before and so the actual preparation on the birthday is minimized.

my tiramisu with manfingers
My Tiramisu with 'manfingers' is delicious!

So, I thought that I’d prepare some  Scandinavian Meatballs,  a nice salad and my Tiramisu for dessert. I am still thinking about the wine at this point.

oh yes, let there be Roquefort!
oh yes, let there be Roquefort!

I always enjoy the simple meal on my birthday, I hope yours is as pleasant.

Roger Freberg