1/2 c Rainins
1 c Brandy
10 sl Whole wheat bread (or more)
1/2 c Pecans, toasted & chopped
1 c Grated cheddar cheese
1 c Sugar
3 1/2 c Water, hot
3 tb Unsalted butter
2 ts Vanilla
1 ts Cinnamon
ds Nutmeg
ds Ground corriander
ds Cloves
TOPPING
1 c Whipping cream
1/4 c Powdered sugar
1/2 ts Vanilla
The day before, put raisins into a small bowl and pour brandy over
them. Cover loosely and let stand overnight. Next day, preheat oven
to 350 F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Dice bread and put it in
dish. Add pecans and cheese to the bread and toss. Scatter the
raisins over the top, drizzling on any brandy that has not been
soaked up by raisins. Pour the sugar into a large heavy saucepan.
Warm it over medium heat, stirring to facilitate even heating, until
it melts and turns a deep golden brown. Pour in the water, carefully
because steam will rise rapidly as water hits the sugar. The mixture
will begin to solidify.
Stirring, cook until the mixture is liquid again. Add butter,
vanilla, and spices to syrup. Ladle the caramel carefully over
bread. Syrup should be about level with tops of the bread. If any
bread pcs. are not covered, push them down into the liquid.
Bake 20 to 25 min. until syrup is absorbed and cheese has melted
into the pudding.
Beat whipping cream, adding sugar and vanilla. Spoon pudding into
serving dishes, and dollop whipped cream on top.
Yields
1 Servings