Bread and Butter Pudding

(Image from Google)

This one holds a very special place in my life. On this cold winter night in Delhi - 5th December, 2012 - a day before my planned C-section, I was still not able to believe that the day arrived and so soon the wait was gonna be over...and all the anxiety and planning of those 9 months would not be there ....I could not believe how soon would my life change..Reading "What to expect when expecting" could not prepare me mentally well enough....I was very used to the love and affection frens and family would shower on me for being pregnant...I was very used to the special attention my hubby would give and yes the endless list of Do's and Don'ts which I would receive from aunties, in-laws etc. etc.; just for being pregnant! And now here I was thinking of doing the last bit of what Trayee would love to do before she is no longer a daughter but a mother as well! And what else could it be but  food...good food that I would love to cook! Hence an easy simple recipe, inspired by my Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson's Bread and Butter Pudding was my sole comfort!

Ingredients: 

(very easily available in every household)

Bread (I used whole wheat bread...a plain white bread would also do) Please do not cut the crust of the bread out.

2 Eggs

Milk (I used toned..a full cream is any day better)

Fresh Cream (optional)

Vanilla Essence

Butter (50 gms)

Plain Caster Sugar

Cinnamon powder (completely optional...but i loved this smell when I was expecting :))

Dried fruits (Raisins, prunes, cranberries) (A must - since they provided an interesting sour contrast to the sweet)

Cook It-

Butter the bread slice lightly. Simply tear 6-7 slices of bread in large pieces,you may systematically cut them into 2-inch or so squares or rectangles...but no...this kinda precision was the last thing I had in mind! Now, break two eggs, pour in almost a cup and a half of milk.(You may also use a cup of milk and half a cup of fresh cream instead) And add a few drops of good  vanilla essence. Now whisk the liquid ingredients together, add sugar and whisk again, till the mixture turns a li'l silky in texture. I whisked it manually, a hand blender is easier to use! Butter the baking dish, Just tip in the torn bread pieces, the dry fruits. Cut the butter into a few cubes and randomly place it in the debris of bread and dry fruits and pour the egg and milk mixture over it, make sure all the bread pieces are soaked in the liquid. Then dust a few pinches of cinnamon powder. Do not forget to sprinkle some sugar over, so that it gets a nice caramely crunchy top when it is baked. Let it stand for 8-10 mins. Now put this in a pre-heated oven for 20 mins at 180 degree celsius or 350 degree fahrenheit.