Spinach And Tasso Bread Pudding Recipes

Steps:

• Slice the bread into 1/2" slices and let dry out overnight.
• You may also dry them in a 200-225°F oven for about 30-40 minutes until they're completely dried; make sure you don't brown them.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large heavy skillet (don't use non-stick).
• Add the diced tasso.
• Brown the tasso for 5 minutes until some of the fat has been rendered out and you've got some nice brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Remove from pan, drain on papertowels and set aside.
• Add the wine to the pan, making sure to scrape up all the browned bits.
• Reduce the wine by half.
• Pour out into a large bowl and set aside.
• In the same skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter with the rest of the olive oil.
• Add the onions and garlic.
• Sauté for about 3 minutes, until onions are translucent.
• Add the spinach water and let it reduce.
• Add the chopped spinach.
• Continue to cook for 3 minutes, making sure that there's hardly any moisture left.
• Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl.
• Add the half-and-half.
• Add the molasses, Worcestershire, hot sauce, the reduced wine, about 2 teaspoons of salt, plenty of fresh ground black pepper and Creole seasoning to taste.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking dish.
• Make one layer of dried bread slices on the bottom.
• Use little broken-off pieces if you need to fill any little spaces.
• Cover the bread evenly with the spinach mixture.
• Sprinkle evenly with 1/3 of the grated cheese.
• Spread the diced tasso evenly over the cheese.
• Season with more Creole seasoning and pepper.
• Sprinkle with more cheese.
• Add a second layer of bread,filling the holes with broken pieces as needed.
• Give the custard a final mix with the whisk and pour evenly over the entire surface of the bread, making sure you wet everything.
• Season the top with more black pepper and Creole seasoning, the remaining cheese and a sprinkling of salt.
• Wrap the pudding in plastic wrap.
• Weigh the top down with a couple of boxes of brown sugar, a bag or rice or whatever you have available.
• This helps compress the layers of the pudding so that the custard will soak all the way through allowing it to cook more evenly.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When ready to cook,take the pudding out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 325-350°F for about one hour, until the edges and center are puffy.
• Let the pudding cool for about 5 minutes.
• Slice and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl combine water, honey, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Set aside to foam. Then whisk in 2 tablespoons of olive oil, then sift 1 cup of flour and mix well. Set aside for 1 hour, or until it has a sponge-like texture.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and saute onions until tender, about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic, cumin, and remaining salt to the onions. Stir in the spinach, in small batches, and cook until the spinach is soft. Pour on the lemon juice. Drain spinach in a colander and reserve the cooking liquid. In a large bowl, place 2 cups of the remaining flour, making a well in the center of the flour. Pour the spongy mixture into the well. Knead for 10 minutes, adding enough of the cooking liquid to make it pliable yet firm. Transfer to a oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 2 hours. Then add the feta cheese to the dough and knead for 1 minute. Add the spinach mixture, sprinkle with the remaining flour, and mix together quickly. The dough is supposed to be moist and loose, don't knead again. Form into a oblong loaf and place the dough on a well oiled baking sheet. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and let proof for 1 hour. Bake the bread for 20 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and cook for another 30 minutes.

Steps:

• For the Parmesan-thyme cream: In a heavy-bottomed saucepot over medium-low heat, add the cream, bay leaf and garlic. Simmer until reduced by two-thirds, about 20 minutes, being careful not boil the liquid or scorch the bottom of the pot. With a slotted spoon, remove the garlic and bay leaf. Whisk in the Parmesan. When the Parmesan has melted the sauce is smooth, add the thyme, salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes. Serve warm. (Make 1 quart.)
• For the savory bread pudding: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until beginning to soften, 4 minutes. Add the celery, garlic and thyme; cook for another 3 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk and eggs, and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. In another mixing bowl place the cubed bread. Pour the milk-egg mixture over the bread and mix. Let sit for 10 minutes, until the bread has soaked up liquid. Fold in onion mixture.
• Grease an 8-by-10-inch baking dish with the butter. Add the bread mixture and cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook until the top is toasted and golden brown, another 10 to 15 minutes.
• To serve, cut into 4-by-4-inch portions and place on a plate. Add a sausage patty, 1/4 cup of the spinach and two poached eggs. Pour one-quarter of the Parmesan-thyme cream over the top.