Challah Bread Pudding with Chocolate and Raisins

My goodness, it's been way too long since I wrote in my blog! Where did all the time go? Not that I really mind 2009 coming to an end, but I feel like the last few months have just flown by! With 2010 right around the corner and New Year's resolutions popping up, I felt it time to get back on the ball and start writing again. And, I have the perfect recipe for it! Dave Lieberman's Challah Bread Pudding. This is one of my all-time favorite recipes and it's really super easy. In fact, I not only made it once, but twice over the weekend! The first time was for Christmas at our friend Raquel's house and the second was for Joey's reunion party. I am pleased to say that both times it was a hit. That's really saying a lot for anything put up against Raquel's food!

When I was preparing this, I made it two ways. One with the bread sliced in 1 1/2 inch slices, which is what the recipe calls for (pictured above); and, one with the bread in 1 1/2 inch cubes (pictured below). While the taste is the same, I prefer the bread cubed, which is great because it actually was a mistake on my part. I love it when mistakes turn into happy accidents!

This is a dish everyone should try. It's so creamy and delicious and honestly is not all that hard to make.

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk, warmed
• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter, melted in microwave
• 1 1/2 cups sugar 6 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 loaf challah bread, cut into 1 1/2-inch slices or cubed
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Combine warmed milk and melted butter with the sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Whisk until incorporated and smooth.
3. Line a large baking dish with two-thirds of the challah slices. Sprinkle with half the chocolate chips and half the raisins. Top with remaining challah slices, layering them one on top of the other, and then remaining chocolate chips and raisins, making sure the chips and raisins get inside the layers created by the challah slices.
4. Pour milk mixture slowly over the top of everything and let stand until the bread has absorbed almost all of the liquid, 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Wrap the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove the aluminum foil and cook 10 to 15 minutes longer until set in the middle and lightly browned on top.
6. Remove from oven and let cool before serving.

Notes

Try to use as deep a baking dish as possible as this tends to really puff up and spill while cooking making a huge mess of your oven. I learned this the hard way.

Clams In White Wine With Garlic

I got it in my head the other day that I wanted to have tapas - those wonderful little Spanish dishes that are packed with flavor. I decided I would make Croquettes and Steamed Clams. The Croquettes were one big chore to make so I will blog about them later. The clams, however, were not hard at all and they were surprisingly delicious.

Our favorite place to get steamed clams in at Anchor in Castro. This little place truly has the best and I really wanted to replicate that. I found a recipe in a cook book I have: Tapas: Sensational Small Plates from Spain by Joyce Goldstein. This recipe came quite close to Anchor and was fantastic. This meal was also really cheap. The clams only cost me about $8.00. I served them with a loaf of homemade bread from our new breadmaker. YUM!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds small clams
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• 1/4 bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• Dash of sherry vinegar (optional)
• 2 Tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Instructions

1. If clams are not cleaned, scrub them under cold water. If you have time you can soak them for 1 hour or so in cold salted water in a covered container in your refrigerator.
2. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
3. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and bread crumbs and saute for a few minutes
4. Add the clams and then add the wine.
5. Cover and cook until the clams open (about 3 - 6 minutes) shaking the pan occasionally.
6. Remove from heat and discard any clams that have not opened.
7. Add vinegar, if using, and transfer to a serving dish.
8. Sprinkle with parsley.
9. Serve immediately with bread.

Apple Pie

I can't believe it's already November! Time just seems to be zipping by these days and it's hard to keep up with everything. Now with the holidays coming up full swing it's time to get organized and get with the program.

I have been cooking a lot lately and trying new things. One thing I have been doing is baking. I really am NOT a baker so this it completely new to me. It all started when Joey brought home a huge bag of apples from his mother's tree. I stared at that bag and thought, "What the heck am I going to do with those?" They are small little apples, but have a great taste and texture. The first thing I tried was Apple Strudel. This is all I am going to say about it - phyllo dough is NOT fun to work with. I kind of ended up with an apple burrito! It tasted okay, but it just wasn't all that great.

So, what next? Ah! Apple pie! I had never made one before and it seemed to be the easiest thing I could do. The recipe I used is super simple and I did not make my own crust. I know that is cheating, but after the phyllo dough I just wanted to test this out. I used the frozen pie crusts and they worked perfectly. Actually, the pies were a huge success and I have made a lot of them! I even made one for Joey's mom! I think the secret is using the mandolin to slice the apples really thinly. Of course the hard tart apples also made the pie.

Below is my super simple recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 frozen pie crusts
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 to 7 cups apples cut into thin slices
  
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Remove two frozen crusts from package.
• Remove first crust from pan while frozen and set aside on waxed paper.
• Let crusts thaw about 15 minutes while you are preparing the filling.
• Place second crust on baking sheet.
• Core, peel and slice the apples in to very thing slices
• In a medium bowl combine the apples, with the brown and white sugar.
• Add flour, cinnamon and continue mixing until they are well coated.
• Pour the filling into the shell on the baking sheet.
• Press first crust gently to flatten; repair any cracks.
• Lift waxed paper with crust and carefully turn over; centering crust over filling.
• Gently peel off waxed paper.
• Press edges of crusts together firmly with tines of fork to seal.
• Sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon over the pie.
• Cut several slits in top crust.
• Bake for approximately 55 minutes.

Notes

If that pie crust for the top is all in pieces don't worry. Just place them on top of the filling like a puzzle. In the end it will all work out and look beautiful!