Sweet breakfast bread pudding
The sweet fruit-full breakfast bread pudding brings a dessert-like dish into brunch. (Juli Leonard, MCT)

Ingredients:
2 cups well-shaken buttermilk
2 cups half-and-half
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 loaf country Italian or French bread, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes or 6 cups any stale bread, biscuits or cake
2 cups fresh or frozen fruit
(such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, pitted cherries, sliced peaches or plums) or 1 cup good-quality semisweet chocolate, cut into chunks
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted

1. Combine buttermilk, half-and-half, eggs and vanilla. Add bread cubes. Let them stand 10 to 15 minutes, until the bread absorbs most of the liquid. Add fruit or chocolate and stir to combine. Pour bread mixture into prepared pan, making sure to get all the liquid out of the bowl. 

. Cut a sheet of aluminum foil large to cover the pan and grease one side of it with butter. Place buttered side down over the baking dish and bake 1 hour. Uncover and bake 20 minutes longer, until the top is golden brown and crispy.

3. Meanwhile, whisk the butter and cream together. Slowly add the sifted confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over the warm pudding. Serve warm; leftovers can be reheated in a 300-degree oven. Makes 12 servings.

Nutrition information:
Per serving: 249 calories, 47 percent calories from fat, 13 grams total fat, 136 milligrams cholesterol, 24 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram total fiber, 8 grams protein, 242 milligrams sodium.