Dear readers,
I’ve got a wonderful new recipe for you today, but you’ll have to bear through my elaborate example first (sure, you could scroll down but where’s the fun in that?). It involves being busy and away from home. So while this could have been a mini summer trip, or a soccer tournament, I’m going to go ahead and take us back to Comic-Con (oh great, again?) – which, hey, maybe you were a Con goer last month, so listen up!
Now, let’s jump in our TARDIS and travel four weeks in the past: Important panels, parties, and lots of early mornings/late nights has meant nothing short of erratic eating habits for the last four days. Even if you live in the area, you haven’t been home enough to use that nice French baguette you bought earlier in the week.
Oh no! That nice baguette has gone stale!
Bummer, you were really looking forward to enjoying that baguette. At any rate, you cut your losses and make your way over to the trash bin with that hard-as-rock loaf. Wait! You see a recipe pop up on Pinterest as you open the bin. Rays of light shine down upon the bread in your hands, and a heavenly chorus echos in your kitchen. Or maybe a…
But with bread.
You have an idea.
Chocolate bread pudding. Yes. It’s perfect, it’s brilliant, it’s just what you need! No longer will your wasted bread be wasted; you are about to put that cunning and resourcefulness that got you a front row seat in Hall H last Saturday to use once more! Even better is the key word of what you’re about to create: chocolate.
You get to work and melt some chocolate
With all the pop culture, fandom goodness that you took part in for four glorious days, the return to ‘normal’ life hit you hard. Post-Comic-Con-Blues (PCCB. Yes, it is a real thing, and completely normal. No, it’s not a confirmed acronym…yet).
And add it to your egg mixture
You’ve been on your computer scrolling through every #SDCC related post/video/picture and reliving that awesome moment at the Nerd HQ party with your new tumblr buddy who was there with you. But now, now you have the ingredients and the power to fight those pesky PCCB feels with some endorphin boosting chocolate.
You pour in milk and Kahlua like a pro
You put on your superhero themed apron and hope to the powers that be that you don’t have to run to the store for a new carton of milk (you’re in luck, you bought some on Thursday – nice!). Several dishes stacked in the sink and about an hour later, you find yourself pulling out a beautiful, bread/chocolate concoction.
You add that stale bread and let it soak up that delectable mixture for half an hour
It smells amazing and it looks as if the effort you put in despite your exhausted state was worth it. You wait the minimal amount possible for it to cool and scoop out a healthy serving with a bit of vanilla ice cream on the side and some whipped cream to top it off.
Bam! It’s ready for the oven.
Oh. My. God. You have to go share this recipe with all of your fellow nerd sufferers to lift their spirits! Yeah, geek solidarity! If you could share it with them directly, you totally would, but not even that thought will get you down right now. You’ve done it. (Gone and made a fantastic dessert and NOT wasted that legit French bread you got at the bakery before Comic-Con that is.)
You’ve earned this.
Chocolate Bread Pudding
Ingredients:
– 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
– 4 eggs
– 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
– 1/2 tsp cinnamon
– 1/8 tsp nutmeg
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 4 oz Kahlua (or brandy)
– 2 cups milk
– 4 cups cubed stale French bread
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8.5 x 4.5 inch (5-cup) loaf pan.
2. Melt 1 cup chocolate chips and set aside to cool slightly.
3. Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, melted chocolate, and Kahlua in a large bowl. When very smooth, stir in milk and mix well. Add bread and let stand for 30 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure bread is evenly soaked.
4. Ladle half the bread mixture into loaf pan. Spread remaining 1 cup chocolate chips on top. Ladle remaining bread mixture over chocolate chips. Bake about 55 minutes, until center is set. Serve warm (with whipped cream and/or ice cream).
Seriously, this recipe is amazing (actually the recipe note says “Awesome! 🙂 Easy, too”)
Well readers, thanks for bearing with my example! I couldn’t help myself, and it just works so well in my still-thinking-about-how-awesome-Comic-Con-was brain. Anyway, if you need a delicious pick me up or have company coming and still haven’t decided what dessert to make, this is a winner. Thanks for reading, cheers! Until then…
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