Friday, November 27, 2009

Savory Bread Pudding

How can soggy bread taste so irresistible??

I used the leftover broccoli rabe from here and leftover butternut squash from this recipe to make Recipe #34: a savory bread pudding last night.

The original recipe again came from Alanna; I halved it and tweaked it slightly. Here is my adaptation in short:

1. Saute 1 onion and ½ bunch broccoli rabe in olive oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. Custard: Mix, using an immersion blender
1 egg
¾ cup 2% milk
¼ cup cream
salt
paprika
lots of good mustard

3. In a bowl, mix
5-6 slices whole grain bread, cut in cubes
3-4 cups diced raw butternut squash (it cooks during baking)
1 cup shredded aged cheddar.
Stir in onion mixture. Place in a greased baking dish.

4. Pour the custard over to soak the bread mixture. Bake at 375F.

This was absolutely delightful as it baked, and the taste was fabulous!



On a quick side dish, I made balsamic-glazed brussels sprouts. Everything tastes better with a balsamic glaze. If I cut up old sneakers into strips and glazed them with balsamic vinegar, we would probably eat them with gusto.


*** *** *** Fresh off the needles *** *** ***


All year long, I have been tossing our wine and champagne corks into a drawer. In the past week, the corks crawled out and donned matching hats and sweaters- now there are cork elves crowded in my living room.

Corks


korknisse1


korknisse3


korknisse2


korknisse4


Isn't this a cute way to recycle corks into holiday ornaments? This clever pattern is generously shared by Manne and translated into English by Saartje (she of the famous booties).

Tomorrow- something light and simple after all the holiday indulgence.

35 comments:

  1. I prefer savory dishes than sweets,nice dish for cold weather.
    love the cork cuties.. they look amazing.

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  2. Hats off Nupur!! Loves those Elves :)

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  3. these are sooo cute ! i want one of themmm..........

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  4. Hey Nupur,
    The cork elves are so cute and utterly adorable!!! A brilliant way of turning "waste" to "best"....by the way wht r brussel sprouts,,and r any other alternate veggies that I can use for this recipe,,
    cheers
    raakhee

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  5. This savory pudding sounds really irresistible. Reading at the ingredients --worth to try it.
    Oww...that corks...so cute!!! Such a creative idea Nupur. :)

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  6. Your cork elves are ADORABLE! :D

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  7. beautiful cork elves Nupur. they look so gorgeous...

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  8. how cute those looks :)...great work there ...
    hugs and smiles

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  9. They look so darn cute, Nupur.
    Savory bread pudding look delicious.

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  10. Those little guys are darling -- do you need more corks?

    So glad you liked the bread pudding, you've got me hankering another one!

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  11. Savory pudding looks great! Such a clever idea to dress up the wine corks!

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  12. Oh those elves look so good! wow, great work!
    And the pudding looks fantastic!

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  13. those corks are so cute! and the bread pudding sounds amazing..whats not to like about bread and cheese and cream!

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  14. Oh man.. those cork elves are just adorable. Neat idea.. savory bread pudding sounds delicious.

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  15. adorable elves and lovely bread pudding. i made a cork pin-up board with our bottle corks.

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  16. Shyam- Thank you :)

    Sonia- The bread pudding is totally worth a try- very tasty!

    Raakhee- Brussels sprouts look like miniature cabbages. You could try this recipe with broccoli, cauliflower, farazbi (green beans/French beans) or mushrooms. Yes, I did love how the corks were saved from the trash and turned into something that I can share with friends :)

    Suparna- Just reach into the screen and take one!

    Sheetal & Rahul- Thanks!

    Madhu- Like you, I prefer savory dishes to sweets too.

    Sayantani, Jaya- Thanks!

    indosungod- The bread pudding was wonderful; certainly something I'll be making again.

    PJ- Thanks :)

    Alanna- If you want elves for yourself, send me your corks ;) I've been really enjoying your recipes- thanks for sharing them!

    mona- Thank you!

    Pavani- It really is a neat idea, these knitting designers are so clever!

    Rekha shoban- Thanks!

    bee- I so wanted to make a cork pin-up board but had too few corks for that project. It is definitely on my list! I know people make very cute coasters and trivets with recycled corks too.

    Veggie Belly- I know, you could add practically anything to bread and cheese and cream and it would be fantastic :)

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  17. Your Carolling Corks looks so cute and festive. I love them. Hope you had a good Thanksgiving!

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  18. Those corky creatures are so so cute :) very creative Nupur, just like the bread pudding

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  19. omg the elves are soo soo adorable!!

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  20. Nupur, I was a wanna be knitter a few years back. I got as far as completing a hat. I also have some yarn from the projects I never could finish. Some of it is a high quality marino wool. Since you are so creative I figured I ask if you would have any use for it.

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  21. cutest way of recycling..I would say..superb!

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  22. PrincessK- Sure I do, I usually fall asleep on the couch around 9 PM :D

    Namita- Thanks, these corks will hopefully decorate trees in my coworkers' homes!

    Bong Mom- Thanks :) I just copies other people's good ideas in both cases ;)

    Random Thoughts- Thank you!

    Bharti- Glad you like them :)

    Madhuli- Yes, I was so pleased to save them from the trash!

    Punita- Sure, I'll be happy to use your wool. In fact, I can knit it up into something for you or your baby! Just get in touch with me. No point letting good quality wool sit around :)

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  23. bread, custard and baked ?(and butternut squash!)- difficult to go wrong with that. I'll definitely be trying this soon.

    And your cork people are adorable.

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  24. Hey Nupur,

    Aawwww- Those Cork Elves are so adorable !

    By the way - every time I open your blog, and my husband sees it - he asks "How is Dale ?"
    Hope he is doing just fine !!! :)

    Leena.

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  25. Lavanya- I do hope you try this one soon, it is a wonderful savory supper!

    Leena- I'll post a pic of Dale this week, just for you :)

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  26. Madhu (madhurima1@gmail.comDecember 18, 2009 1:44 PM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  27. Nupur- Favor...Can you take off my email address from my comment above?

    Thanks!

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  28. Madhu- So apparently I can delete the comment but your name remains there- sorry but I have no way of deleting the email ID.

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  29. Thanks Nupur!

    But do you think you could spare me some elves for my tree? :)

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  30. Madhu- Thanks- glad you like the elves but I am afraid I am not selling them. If I had any left I would have given them to you but they are all gifted to friends and coworkers already.

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  31. that bread pudding looks delicious and I love your little cork elves too

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