I miss my mom today, so I’m making bread pudding
Her bread pudding.
Even though bread pudding is bad for my hips.
It is good for my soul.
I call her on the phone to ask if I should double the recipe.
We talk while she holds my sweet niece.
I hold the phone in one hand, the measuring cup in the other.
I tell her I am using the wrong bread,
But that I think it will work.
It will be great, she tells me.
I ask her what she is doing for Easter.
No plans, she says, and you?
No plans, I say, other than a defrosting turkey in the fridge.
She says maybe she and Dad will come for dinner
And we both chuckle.
I like that joke;
It makes me feel good for a moment.
How is Dad? I ask.
He is stressed, she says.
Right before I douse the bread,
I realize that I forgot the vanilla.
I’ve done that before, she says.
I add the vanilla in the nick of time.
We hang up as I put the dish into the oven.
Goodbye, I love you.
Love you too.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Mom’s Famous Bread Pudding
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Place pan of water in preheating oven.
2 c. day old bread torn bread ‘cubes’ (the bread makes the pudding—use a heavy, dense artesian bread.)
1/4 c. good quality honey (avoid dark, strong flavored honey)
2 T. butter
1/8 t. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 t. vanilla (up this a little if you use real vanilla)
1 2/3 c. hot milk (not boiling)
1/2 c. raisins or Craisins (optional)
Place bread and raisins in small baking dish.
In microwave, heat milk, butter, honey and salt. Stir during process to dissolve honey. It doesn’t need to approach boiling, just needs to be good and warm.
Slowly pour hot milk into beaten eggs, stirring constantly.
Add vanilla.
Pour mixture over bread; sprinkle all over with nutmeg.
Bake in pan of hot water until set, about 30-40 minutes.
thanks for the recipe – I have tasted your mom’s bread pudding and never forgotten it! She made me a convert to liking bread pudding to begin with. And I am missing my mom today as well. And my sister. And home in general.
I have never had bread pudding. Can you send some my way? It would be way easier than making it myself…
Such a sweet conversaton with your mom. I love you for including the recipe! I’ve always wanted to try that.
It’s only recently that I have become a fan of bread pudding. Several of the buffets I frequent, that are super classy, like Golden Corral, serve it and it’s delicious!
That made me homesick as well! Maybe I’ll serve up some bread pudding as well.
We have had family visiting off and on for the last 4 weeks. It is always half way through their visit that I realize that they have to go home again and it makes me sad. It stinks being far from family, but make their visits so special. Enjoy your bread pudding!
Your mom is an amazing woman. I often have felt like I miss her as well. She made my daughter and I feel like her own kid/grandkid while we were out that way for Conference last Oct.
I LOVE bread pudding. I have never made it myself, but just might with this recipe.
Sorry your so far from home.
oh, the power of comfort food. worth every calorie.
Yours looks yummy! and thanks for the recipe. Until now, I have had bad thoughts towards bread pudding from the stories my sister told us when she worked at Sizzler in HS.
I miss you too, Tiff. The bread pudding looks marvelous! BTW, forgive my typo regarding the vanilla. It should say “use” real vanilla, not “if” real vanilla. Also, you can use a bit more honey if you like it sweeter.
Hi Michelle! It was really a privilege having you and your sweet daughter with us for a little while. We should have made bread pudding!!
looks so good tiff–
hope you are surviving without your ‘mama’–
some days are hard
Mmmm…bread pudding – the ultimate comfort food. Thank you for letting us listen in on your sweet conversation. I think I’ll give my own mom a ring.
It is the ordinary conversations like the one you had with your mom, that make me love my family.
Just as I was clicking on your link in Google Reader, I thought to myself as I that it’s really too bad we didn’t end up moving to where you are. And then I read your blog, and I feel it even more! Because it would be so fun to have you over for Easter dinner and partake of some of your wit. And more importantly some of your bread pudding. Because that’s what I would have asked you to bring.
aw! your post made me a lil bit nostalgic, even though i still live with my mom.
(and i LOVE bread pudding.)
I felt a little bit sad when I read this post and realized you were missing your mom because of my job that moved us away. Then I remembered that my mom is dead and I didn’t feel too bad anymore. Have a happy day!
so glad I came back and read Ryan’s comment. Now I’m just homesick to see you guys
I like your rationale Ryan. I love bread pudding too.
As I was reading this I was thinking…I sure hope she gives us the recipe. Sure enough it appeared. I can’t wait to try it.
I live close to my mom and miss her. I can’t imagine living that far away. It must be hard.
Isn’t it strange how a conversation with your mom makes you feel better- and makes you miss them more at the same time? Sweet post.
Beautiful Bread Pudding by the way! And reading Ryan’s comment makes me miss you guys more!
If i lived 2000+ miles away from my mom, I’d make bean dip.
Very sweet, and kind of makes me miss my mom too.
Please don’t hate me, but if bread and raisins are ingredients, it doesn’t get to wear the badge of “dessert.”