Mount Vernon Bread Pudding... Yum!

Winter is such a good time to share recipes... especially ones that are heart-warming and sweet!  So we'd like to share a recipe that we obtained while enjoying lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn several years ago.  It's appropriately named Mount Vernon Bread Pudding, and with the original GW's birthday just behind us, it seems fitting to share it with you now.  As lovers of bread pudding, we've eaten them at many fine restaurants and tried many recipes, but this one is by far the most delicious one we've found.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do here at the Apple Bin Inn! 

Ingredients:

4 cups French bread cubes

½ cup raisins (optional)

3 tbsp melted butter

8 eggs 

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp nutmeg

½ tsp salt

⅔ cup sugar

3 cups Half & Half

1½ tsp vanilla

whipped cream (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange bread cubes and raisins in buttered 3 qt. baking dish, and drizzle with butter.

Combine eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, and beat slightly.

Dissolve sugar in Half & Half, and add to eggs in a fine stream, stirring constantly.

Stir in vanilla.

Pour mixture evenly over bread cubes, and bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes,

or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

May be served warm or chilled... plain or with whipped cream.  Enjoy!