It always starts with a craving...

Yes, indeed, it always starts with a craving.

The other day, I had to have a fried egg sandwich.

Just had to have one. And I wanted it on toasted

French bread, so I bought a loaf. We all ate our

fried egg sandwiches (me with much joy) and then

I had a half loaf left. Hmmm.

French bread doesn't have much staying power.

By day two it was a little hard by day three it

was mimicking cement. Then our air conditioner

needed to be repaired (in AZ this is really not

negotiable) and the bill had me seriously

considering assuming the fetal position for the

day. But I decided comfort food was infinitely

more rewarding for me and less alarming for the

fellas who live with me. So, I decided to whack the

crusty loaf into pieces and make myself a lovely

mood elevating bread pudding. Thankfully,

it worked!

Ingredients:

2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
2 tspns cinnamon
1/4 tspn nutmeg
1 tspn vanilla
3 cups bread in small pieces
1/2 cup raisins


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. In medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it thickens. Add the butter, stirring until it is melted. Cool. Combine sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, beat with mixer at medium speed for 1 minute. Slowly add milk and butter to the mixture. Place bread in a lightly greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Pour batter on top of bread. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes. Serve warm.

I serve mine with vanilla ice cream but there are wonderful bread pudding sauces (brandy anyone?) that go just as well if not better.

YUM!

www.jennmckinlay.com

SPRINKLE WITH MURDER
Available now!

aka Lucy Lawrence
CUT TO THE CORPSE
Available now!

And I am not the only one who has been led astray by a craving! Our own Elizabeth/Riley suffered the same for a shrimp po'boy. Check it out!

Have you entered Julie's May Contest?
This is the last week for entries!

Julie’s first book in the Manor of Murder Mystery series, Grace Under Pressure (starred review in Publishers Weekly!), debuts June 1st!
To help launch the book and to celebrate its release, she's running a very special contest: Pre-order Grace Under Pressure any time before May 31, 2010, and you're eligible to win a $25 gift certificate from Mystery Lovers Bookshop! (and if you've already pre-ordered,
you just need to let Julie know!)
No receipts required. Just email Julie at JulieHyzy@gmail.com with the date that you
pre-ordered and the name of the bookstore you
ordered it from, and your name goes in! (Please
put "CONTEST" in the subject header. Thanks!)

Here are a few helpful links to get you started:

Independent Bookstore List: here

- Mystery Lovers Bookshop (free shipping on book orders over $10!)
- Centuries & Sleuths (Julie's local mystery bookstore)

-Barnes & Noble

- Amazon.com