If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, why not make something decadent, delicious, chocolate and inexpensive?
When I was a kid I used to hurry home from school to see what Mom might have put together in the way of snacks. Maybe that’s when the foodie in me developed. But I digress. One of the most wonderful aromas from her oven came when she made the humble creation known as Bread Pudding. I suspect bread pudding was created in the first place because there were odds and ends of bread pieces around and nobody wanted them to go to waste. In some families the crust is not the delicacy it is in our household, so those tidbits may have accumulated.
When Mom wanted to make something really special out of this dessert, she would use chocolate milk. OH! Talk about comfort food! My dad would taste it and then make a big show of surprise and delight that we were dining so fashionably on CHOCOLATE bread pudding! When I think of families sitting at the dinner table, making memories and bonding, I remember the fabulous fun we used to have together at mealtimes.
Here is Mom’s recipe for you to enjoy so you can make a big deal out of Valentine’s Day with no heavy lifting AND NO EXPENSE:
MOM’S BREAD PUDDING
2 cups dry bread, crusts and all-cubed
4 cups milk, scalded
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 slightly beaten eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Set oven to 350 degrees.
Soak bread in milk for 5 minutes. Add sugar, butter, salt. Pour slowly over eggs; add vanilla and mix well.
Pour into greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Bake in pan of hot water in moderate oven until firm, about one hour. Serve warm.
Use chocolate milk for variation. Raisins make a good addition, too, if desired.
This makes 8 servings.
So there you have it, boys and girls! Decadent delight on a budget!
If you use food commodities, food pantry food, Angel Food Ministries food or Farmers Markets Coupons, this is a dish you can make without a twinge of guilt! Even if you just want to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your food budget, this is a winner.
Surely your mothers made things that made your childhood memorable. Won’t you share on the comment section? Or, if you prefer, you could drop us a line at foodstampscookingclub@gmail.com. WE LOVE MAIL. WE ALSO LOVE YOUR COMMENTS.
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