More apples and bread...

My family and I just recently came home from a short vacation. Along the way our eyes were peeled for bakeries. I often heard someone say (usually Dad - he's always on the lookout for ways to advance my baking business), "A bakery, Elsa!" Though we didn't stop at every one by any means, a couple bakeries did get our business. It wasn't that we needed more food for our trip. Our home baked bread supply was more than enough to make us through our five day trip. It's just that sampling other people's bread is something I love to do.

As a result of those bakery visits, we came home with many partially eaten loaves of bread. Already we have enjoyed good breakfasts of toast, last night's supper of French toast, and tonight's bread pudding made up of these left-over breads.

Bread pudding - yum! Last year I wrote about the ultimate bread pudding I made out of Chocolate Pecan Bread. Tonight's wasn't quite so over-the-top amazing, but it made for a very comforting dessert after a cool, grey day. To put the icing on the cake, it used an ingredient that is plentiful at this time of year - apples. Here is the recipe. Why not give it a try sometime this fall? It is sure to make your tummy smile. :]

Caramel Apple Bread Pudding

1 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 c. milk
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. egg substitute (or the real thing, if you prefer)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
5-6 c. day-old bread, cubed (Change the amount depending on how much bread you want to use up!)
1 c. apples, peeled and chopped

Combine all but the bread and apples in a large bowl. Stir in the bread cubes and apples.

Pour into an 8x8" pan coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. (I found the knife doesn't come out perfectly clean. The main thing is to get a "set" pudding. It will be wet, but you don't want a totally soggy mush.)

Serve warm...
...with whipped cream or ice cream.
...drizzled with caramel ice cream topping.
...floating in milk.