Apple Bread Pudding

This is another one of those dishes that I HAD to bake in order to make use of food before I was forced to throw it away, in this case: bread. You see, bread doesn't last long in this country (just like fruit and veggies), most Dutch people go through a loaf on bread in a couple of days so no need to make bread last any longer than that...........unfortunately, I am neither dutch or a 3-times-a-day-bread kind of person, so I always end up with lots of dry bread and there are only so many home-made croutons you can make!!

I am not such a big fan of puddings but I have to say I really liked this one, the vanilla sauce  gives it a really nice taste and it is something that you can enjoy on a cold spring day just like the ones we've been having here this last week or so. Oh! and the little one loved it too!!

Ingredients:

•  2 cups milk
• 1 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
•  3  eggs
•  3 tablespoons unsalted butter
•  1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•  1/8 teaspoon salt
•  7 slices crustless white bread and cut into cubes (about 4 cups)
•  2 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes (about 2 cups)
•  2/3 cup raisins 
•  1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• extra cinnamon 

Vanilla Sauce: 

• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 200 °C.
2. Butter a medium baking dish.
3. Combine bread, apples and raisins in a large bowl.
4. In a small saucepan combine milk, sugar and butter. Cook over medium heath until butter is melted.
5. Stir over bread mixture and fold good.
6. In a small bowl whisk eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Pour over soaked bread mixture and mix together.
7. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
8. Bake the pudding 30 minutes, sprinkle with some extra cinnamon and continue baking for an extra 20-25 minutes until top is golden and center is set (It should jiggle a bit when you move it.)
9. While pudding is baking, mix together sugar, brown sugar, milk and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat, and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla.
10. Spoon pudding into bowls. Top with vanilla sauce and serve.

Tip: You can add other dried fruit (cranberries work really good) instead of raisins and skip the vanilla sauce or top it with vanilla ice cream. It can be served warm or cold.