Apple Bread Pudding

 OK, this is just plain good. I'd been craving apples and for some reason, this just seemed like the recipe to try. Allrecipes was the source and I haven't changed the ingredients, but I have altered the process to make it simpler with less clean-up. Your house will smell delish while this is baking. It's wonderful just plain, warm from the oven; allrecipes suggested serving it with ice cream. But I've put a list of topping ideas at the end of the recipe, in case you want to dress it up for the holidays or a dinner party.

Of course, I left out the raisins.


FRENCH APPLE BREAD PUDDING
4 c cubed french bread
3 eggs
1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
3 med all-purpose apples, pared, cored and finely chopped
1 3/4 c hot water
1/4 c butter, melted
1 t cinnamon
1 t vanilla extract
1/2 c raisins (opt)

Preheat oven to 350F. Place bread cubes in buttered (or sprayed) square baking pan. Toss with raisins if including, and diced apples* (see note below).

In blender, place eggs, condensed milk, melted butter, hot water, cinnamon and vanilla. Blend. Pour over bread cube mixture. Press the dry cubes on top down into liquid to moisten.

Bake 50-55 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Serve warm or cold.
See list of topping ideas below.

*Note: I have a Vitamix - a super-heavy duty blender, so here's what I did because I'm lazy: after paring the apples I used a corer/wedge cutter. Obviously, it cuts out the core of the apples and simultaneously cuts them into wedges. I tossed the wedges into the blender with the egg mixture. So my finished product had no little pieces of apple - it was a smoother texture. But, I had no mixing bowls, spoons, cutting board, knife, etc... to clean up and no dicing to do. Just tossed the blender container in the dishwasher and I was done.

Topping Ideas - feel free to use them in combination:
ice cream - vanilla, creme brulee, maple walnut, butter pecan
whipped cream - slightly sweetened, perhaps seasoned with rum or better yet, calvados, which is
     French and would carry the theme forward, and/or with a dash of cinnamon
rum, brandy or calvados sauce
caramel sauce
maple syrup
raisins soaked in a little rum, brandy or calvados - sparingly - or you could soak them in a little warm
     apple juice if you don't want to use alcohol - currants can sub for raisins and are healthier (less
     sugar spike)