Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding Recipe

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Earlier today I posted a photo on FB of this bread pudding I made especially for Bill (yes, I like it, too). It is chocolate chip bread pudding, that tastes absolutely delicious.

I got a couple of requests for the recipe, so I decided to post it here for all of you.....


1  French loaf - 2 days old
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter - melted

Custard:
3  cups buttermilk (or half-and-half)
4  large eggs
1/2  cup granulated sugar
1  tsp. vanilla extract (or Buttery Sweet Dough Flavor*)
1/2  tsp. Espresso Powder*
1  cup chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark chocolate)

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice bread into 3/4" slices, brush melted butter on both sides of bread (I use a jelly roll pan)

2. To make custard, beat together buttermilk, eggs, sugar, flavoring, and espresso powder at medium speed until well blended.

3. Pour some custard into an UNgreased 2-quart baking dish (enough to cover bottom about 1/2 inch). Sprinkle some chips over custard. Arrange bread slices in dish all around bottom, overlapping as necessary. Pour remaining custard over bread; sprinkle the rest of the chocolate chips over mixture. Push down bread carefully so that all of it is soaked in custard.

4. Bake bread pudding until golden on top, 50 - 60 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool. Dust with confectioners sugar, if desired.
*These items may be purchase from King Arthur Flour Company


I have also made this with blueberries instead of chocolate chips when in season. Just leave out espresso powder; use vanilla and not Buttery Sweet Dough Flavor.

If you decide to make this, please let me know and post a photo on my FB page or leave a link in the comments here.

Hope you enjoy it.... HUGGLES!

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Thursday Recipe Swap Meet - Brownie Covered Oreo Cups

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OK... we know you have all these recipes that you love to make. You got them from your mother, your grandmother, a magazine, or maybe you made it up, perhaps you don't even remember where the recipe came from. Well, how about sharing them with all of us? We are going to share ours with you every Thursday!


My good friend and (according to her husband) excellent cook, Dolly over at XmasDolly and I are now doing a recipe swap; we want to share ours with you and wold LOVE to get some of your favorites as well... So, Welcome to Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet, here is all you have to do:



<br /><a href="http://wmjshewbridge.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket"src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/xmasdolly/Female-Chef.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /><br /><br />

Post a recipe on your blog, sign the linky on either blog (they will be linked), grab our new button - isn't she cute - hubby says she looks like me... TeeHee? (above, on my sidebar and on my Co-Chef Dolly's blog) and check out the recipes. Don't forget that each week you actually will be getting at least TWO for the price of ONE because both Dolly (Hi, my dear friend!!!) and I will post a recipe on each of our blogs. How simple is that??


**I saw a recipe similar to this on another blog and I cannot remember where, so if it was yours, PLEASE let me know because I want to THANK YOU... I totally LOVE these!!**

Brownie Covered Oreo Cups

1 Pkg brownie mix (I prefer Duncan Hines, but Publix had a BOGO on Betty Crocker and I am all about saving money!)
1 Pkg Oreo cookies (I always use Double Stuff and I found this new flavor with chocolate and vanilla flavor - TO DIE FOR!!)

Plus my secret ingredient for everything chocolate that I make..... 1/4 tsp. Espresso Powder






~ Preheat oven to 350 degrees; spray muffin pan generously with cooking spray (I only use Pam)

~ Mix brownies according to package directions, adding Espresso Powder to the dry mix before adding wet ingredients.

~ Put approx. 1 Tbs. of brownie mix into each muffin cup; then add one cookie to each cup; followed by one more Tbs. of brownie mix.

~ Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes (you'll see the top crack just a little)

~ Let them cool in pan for 10 min. then remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

~ Serve plane or as I like them with whipped cream (Reddi-Whip is my favorite) with each bite..... of course I have to share the whipped cream with the doggies. TeeHee!

But that is ALL they get - no chocolate for my babies.

See the delicious layers of the Oreos!

So now all you have to do is sign our linky so we all can find your recipes. You check out all ours and we will check out all yours. If you don't want to write it all down and you know of one on line just post a link to it on your blog or leave it in a comment if you prefer! 


Let's get cooking..... Bon Appetit!

{Disclosure: I have not been paid by any of the companies who's links I have included. I have found that they work best in my recipe and wanted to share them with my friends. However, if any of these companies want to contact me to do any reviews or giveaways, I am more than happy to oblige!}





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Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet ~ Double Chocolate Bread Pudding with Dulce de Leche

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OK... we know you have all these recipes that you love to make. You got them from your mother, your grandmother, a magazine, or maybe you made it up, perhaps you don't even remember where the recipe came from. Well, how about sharing them with all of us? We are going to share ours with you every Thursday!




My good friend and (according to her husband) excellent cook, Dolly over at XmasDolly and I are now doing a recipe swap; we want to share ours with you and wold LOVE to get some of your favorites as well... So, Welcome to Thursday's Recipe Swap Meet, here is all you have to do:






<br /><a href="http://wmjshewbridge.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Photobucket"src="http://i814.photobucket.com/albums/zz61/xmasdolly/Female-Chef.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /><br /><br />


Post a recipe on your blog, sign the linky on either blog (they will be linked), grab our new button - isn't she cute - hubby says she looks like me... TeeHee? (above, on my sidebar and on my Co-Chef Dolly's blog) and check out the recipes. Don't forget that each week you actually will be getting at least TWO for the price of ONE because both Dolly and I will post a recipe on each of our blogs. How simple is that??



Double Chocolate Bread Pudding with Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche:



2 14-oz. cans sweetened condensed milk (I only use Eagle Brand)


Pudding:


1-lb. day-old loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
8 ounces dark chocolate or semisweet chocolate (the darker the better for me)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa (I also use a really dark cocoa called Black Cocoa, mmmm)
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
6 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp. instant espresso powder (my favorite comes from King Arthur Flour Company)
1 Tbls. vanilla extract


~ Make dulce de leche: Pour condensed milk into a bowl; set over a pot of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is very thick and golden brown, about 2 1/2 hours. Add more water to pot during cooking time, if necessary. Remove bowl; set aside to cool.



~ Make pudding: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Spread bread in dish; sprinkle with chocolate. In a bowl, whisk both sugars, cocoa and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk milk, half-and-half and eggs. Dissolve espresso in vanilla; whisk into egg mixture. Whisk egg mixture into bowl with cocoa mixture. Pour over bread cubes. Cover loosely; let stand for 1 hour.


~ Preheat oven to 325°F. Remove cover. Bake pudding until puffed and set in center, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Insert a small knife into center; it should come out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes. Drizzle with dulce de leche and serve with ice cream, if desired.



Photo Credit


OK, this does take some time to make, but you don't have to stand over it while making it and it really does taste delicious. Bill LOVES bread pudding and because of the chocolate content, there are NO puppy tail wags on this one... however they all did like the caramel sauce and they do love ice cream! =)  I haven't made it in a while so I don't have a current photo of my own, I borrowed one from the recipe file.
 
 
So now all you have to do is sign our linky so we all can find your recipes. You check out all ours and we will check out all yours. If you don't want to write it all down and you know of one on line just post a link to it on your blog or leave it in a comment if you prefer!
 
 
For more recipes, head on over to Ms.BiBi at Daily Organized Chaos.
 
 
Let's get cooking..... Bon Appetit!

{Disclosure: The links provided are for you because I found that they are wonderful for the recipe. I received no compensation from the companies included. Opinions expressed are 100% mine}

Specials Savings for Valentine's Day All this Week and Next

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Valentine's Day isn't just chocolate and roses. Daily deal sites will be offering a variety of gifts in the coming weeks. Treat your significant other to a dinner out, a new haircut, or a massage. Create a memory together! Many daily deal sites will also feature products from online retailers. There's still plenty of time to ship a gift to a friend or a loved one.


For today however there IS a wonderful offer of chocolate, my favorite in fact...

Tempting Truffle Today's Save:Give the gift of gourmet goodies with $30 of premium chocolates from TemptingTruffle.com Expires 11:59 PM - Feb 02, 2011

{Disclosure: I am an Eversave Affiliate}



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Blogger's Valentine's Swap - WooHoo

I had the privilege of participating in Shanon of The Mommy-Files Valentine's Day Blogger Swap. I was lucky enough to be partnered with Erica Haggins of But Mommy... She has 4 of the cutest little girls ever and a really sweet blog. Here are some photos of the loot:

Erica knew I loved the scent of vanilla so she sent some lovely vanilla bath products, she also read on my blog that my ideal home would be to live on a yacht sailing the South Pacific, so she sent this adorable piggy bank... and of course EVERYONE knows that I am a chocoholic so Erica sent these delicious dark chocolate (my fave) Dove candies. YUMMY!!! Plus there were some sweet tarts, lollipops and an adorable coffee mug.

The thing that really touched me the most was that she didn't leave out my little love Nano... she sent him some delicious (yes, I tasted them) doggie cookies. That is the best way to win my unending friendship!!

It was truly a wonderful package... Thank you so much Erica, I hope you and your family had a wonderful Valentine's Day. And thank you so much Shannon for hosting this wonderful swap!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Question I Need Help Answering...

Can someone PLEASE tell me what the drug is that they put into Christmas cookies that makes it impossible for me to STOP eating them even when I know that I should stop and I really am full? If you know the answer, please post it, and a possible antidote.

Thank you my dear friends!

Until next time..... Lorie

Cartoon of the Day: Smarter than Given Credit For

I think this is one of my all-time favorites... especially since I've been known to hide such things from my children....

I hope you all had a great Christmas... still have some chocolate left... and are looking forward to a wonderful new year.

Until next time..... Lorie

Maria's Space: A Book For Chocolate Lovers, Seriously It is A Love Story

Those of you who know me, know that I am a HUGE chocoholic, so you know that I HAD to enter this giveaway over on my friend Maria's blog. It is for a cookbook filled with recipes JUST FOR CHOCOLATE!!! I am in heaven... I can think of a blogger {Shannon} that I won't mention {Shannon} who I know would really love this book {Shannon} . So head on over to Maria's Space to see how you can enter.... Good luck!

Maria's Space: A Book For Chocolate Lovers, Seriously It is A Love Story
Until next time..... Lorie

PHOTO COURTESY: Hachette Book Group

Sunday Stealing: The ABCs of Meme

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing. Sunday Stealing originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme. Let's go!

Today we ripped this meme off a blogger named Maggie from the blog Mind of a Mad Woman. She said that she stole it from Loralee who announced that she was "defying blog snobbery" by doing a meme. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to Sunday Stealing!

Sunday Stealing: The ABC's of Meme

A- Advocate for: Domestic abuse and animal rights

B- Best Feature: my blue eyes

C- Could do without: TV commercials

D- Dreams and desires: to travel the world, especially via cruise ship

E- Essential items: iPhone, laptop, TV with DVR, The Hubs and my Yorkie: Nano

F- Favorite past time: blogging, watching TV, reading, spending time with The Hubs & Nano

G- Good at: creative cooking, baking (The Hubs says I'm really good at spending money!)

H- Have never tried: lots of things, I'm afraid of a lot of things!

I- If I had a million dollars: I'd travel and help my kids out

J- Junkie for: chocolate

K- Kindred spirit: The Hubs, only wish we had known each other longer

L- Little known fact: The Hubs is 24 years older than I am :-) Bill is 67, I am 43

M- Memorable moment: When I realized for the first time that Bill and I were more than friends... it seemed impossible, but it was the truth, we were in love.

N- Never again will I: let a man control me

O- Occasional indulgence: vodka martini with 3 olives

P- Profession: disabled now, but was a certified pharmacy technician in school to become RN

Q- Quote: "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough!"

R- Reason to smile: my family, and my Nano

S- Sorry about: the relationship between my mom, sisters and me (their fault, not mine)

T- Things you are worrying about right now: health & finances

U- Uninterested in: Twitter & Facebook

V- Very scared of: strangers (men in particular), and spiders

W- Worst habits: bite my fingernails

Y- Yummiest dessert: chocolate lava cake

X- X marks my ideal vacation spot: cruising in the Caribbean or the South Seas

Z- Zodiac sign: Sagittarius

Until next time..... Lorie

Somebody's Mother's Chocolate Sauce

Image via Wikipedia

Want to win some CHOCOLATE???????

Well, you all know how I feel about chocolate... it is one of the major food groups.... ok it IS THE major food group!! Now is your chance to win some. Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven has generously offered one of her blog readers a chance to win a jar of Somebody's Mother's Chocolate Sauce in their choice of flavor. Isn't that the MOST wonderful offer??? I was torn about sharing this with you all, because you KNOW I wanted to keep all that chocolate for myself... But, because I am such a super friend and deciding that kharma dictated I let you all know about it, I gave in and decided to post.

Just go on over to Mrs. Cox's Slice o' Heaven blog via this link http://www.sliceoheaven.us/2009/06/somebodys-mothers-chocolate-sauce.html. She has several ways for you to get a shot at this giveaway, much to my chagrin. :-( Good luck (not too much) and check out all her other interesting things on the site - look at her top banner.... it made me laugh out loud, it's kind-of how I feel about blogging.