by Ethel Ashe-Frear

Created on: October 28, 2009

The Best Bread Pudding in the World

When I was a kid my Mom made several deserts. This was one of my favorites - bread pudding, which I guess she got from her Mom and Apple dumplings. Mom passed away at 93. Recipes were not complicated in those days with a lot of words. Most were written for the homemaker who already had some knowledge of baking. Sometimes many words are needed for a recipe - this is not one of them.

Mom's Bread Pudding

2 cups milk

cup margarine or butter

2 eggs slightly beaten

cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon or nutmeg

teaspoon salt

6 cups stale bread (8 slices bread)

cup raisins (optional)

Heat oven 350 degrees. Adjust for electric or gas stove. Temperature will vary in cooking. Heat milk and margarine over low heat until melted and milk is scalded. Mix eggs, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Stir in bread cubes and raisins. Stir in milk mixture and pour into ungreased casserole.

Bake uncovered, do not overcook. 45-50 minutes.

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Mom's Apple Dumplings

6 baking apples about medium size

3 tablespoons raisins (optional)

Prepare pastry first:

Make enough standard pastry for a 9" round two crust pie. Roll out and cut in squares large enough to cover apples. Shake some cinnamon on each apple, dot in the center with margarine and close apple up as directed. Bring all four sides up over apple and pinch together. (Or you can buy it already made and roll out).

Heat oven 425 degrees. Bake as you would an apple pie. Temperature varies for electric and gas stove.

Mom would make a vanilla sauce to pour over the apple dumplings. I do not have that recipe. Packaged vanilla pudding may be used, just make thinner than suggested on the box.

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I often made crepes for my kids. Here is my personal recipe.

Ethel's Breakfast Crepes

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tablespoon sugar

teaspoon baking powder

teaspoon salt

2 cups milk

2 tablespoons margarine or butter, melted

teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

Mix all dry ingredients together first, then add remaining ingredients. Beat with beater until smooth. Grease fry pan until bubbly. Pour cup of batter into pan. Cook until light brown.

Spread with jelly or berries, or any other desired filling. Can apples used for pies is also good. Roll up and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

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