Bread Pudding With Mezcal Marinated Dried Fruits Recipes

QUEEN'S BREAD PUDDING WITH COLD FRUIT "SOUP"

Steps:

• Grease a 2-quart baking dish with butter. Spread the cubed baked goods evenly in the prepared baking dish. Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it is scalding. In a separate small saucepan, heat the apricots and cranberries with the liqueur (or water) and let simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the dried fruits begin to soften. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Add the hot milk, a small amount at a time, to the egg mixture and whisk together (known as a liaison) to temper the mixture by combining gently and gradually without cooking the eggs. Spread the apricots and raisins evenly over the bread in the baking dish, the pour the liaison into the baking dish, distributing evenly.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Let the baking dish stand for about 20 minutes to allow the liquid to absorb into the cubed baked goods.
• Prepare a bain marie by placing the baking dish into a larger pan or dish, placing the arrangement into the preheated oven, and then pouring hot water into the outer dish (without splashing any into the custard dish). Bake until the pudding firms up and puffs up and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove from oven and from water bath and let rest 10 minutes. Serve warm or cooled.
• While the bread pudding is baking, prepare the cold fruit soup. To a blender add strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peeled banana, peach and lemon juice. Blend until smooth and strain into a bowl. Return strained fruit to blender and add softened frozen yogurt, blending to combine. Serve as a topping to the Queen's Bread Custard, in demitasse cups as an accompaniment, or by itself as an independent dessert soup.

TZIMMES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat and then add the carrots, sweet potatoes and onions. Sauté, stirring frequently, until lightly browned all over, about 8 minutes. Spread the vegetables evenly in a 9-by-13-inch casserole and tuck the ginger, apricots and prunes around the dish.
• Add the vegetable broth and honey to a small bowl and whisk together to combine. Pour over the fruits and vegetables, then submerge the cinnamon stick. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and braise for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, stir the mixture and continue cooking (uncovered) until the vegetables are tender and the sauce is reduced and thickened to a syrupy consistency, about 30 minutes more.
• Break the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into small pieces, dot over the top and gently stir to coat the vegetable mixture in the reduced sauce. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and a light shake of cinnamon. Serve topped with mint and parsley.

SLOW COOKED WINTER BREAD PUDDING WITH DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• If bread is not stale: Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet and cook until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, whiskey, vanilla, salt and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Toss bread cubes and dried fruit together and place into the slow cooker. Pour custard over top and press down lightly until all bread is covered with custard.
• Cover and cook on LOW until pudding puffs and is just set, about 3 1/2 hours. Remove insert from the slow cooker and cool on a rack, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon pudding into large cups or bowls and sprinkle each serving with cinnamon sugar, and toasted nuts. Top with whipped cream or yogurt, if desired.

MEZCAL STALK

Steps:

• Spread some worm salt on a small plate. Moisten the rim of a short glass with water; dip in the worm salt. Fill with ice.
• Combine the mezcal, orange liqueur, pineapple juice, lemon juice and agave in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake well and double strain into the prepared glass. Garnish with the dried pineapple and pineapple leaf.

BREAD PUDDING WITH DRIED APRICOTS, DRIED CHERRIES AND CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup sugar, 2 cups water, apricots and cherries in medium saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Cover; let stand 20 minutes. Strain fruit; reserve fruit and soaking liquid separately.
• Combine 1 cup sugar and remaining 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk in 1 cup reserved soaking liquid (mixture will bubble vigorously). Stir over low heat until caramel thickens slightly, about 6 minutes. Add 1 cup cream. Bring to boil and simmer until caramel thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool caramel sauce 30 minutes, whisking occasionally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover caramel sauce and fruit separately and refrigerate.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring 2 cups cream and milk to simmer in another medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Whisk 2 cups sugar and egg yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in warm milk mixture. Cool custard slightly. Lightly butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange enough bread in single layer over bottom and up sides of prepared dish to cover completely, trimming bread to fit. Sprinkle reserved fruit over bread. Arrange remaining bread slices over fruit, trimming to fit and overlapping slightly.
• Pour custard over bread. Press bread gently to submerge into custard. Let stand until custard is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Bake until custard is set and bread is golden brown on top, about 55 minutes.
• Rewarm sauce over low heat. Serve pudding warm with sauce.