![\"\"](\"https:\/\/freshbynorthwest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/01\/distinctive-cheese-feta-and-kalamata-olive-sun-dried-tomato.jpg\" "\\"distinctive")
<\/a>From left to right: Aged Cheese, Feta & Kalamata Olive, Sun Dried Tomato<\/p><\/div>\n
Bread pudding is a quintessential Real Food<\/a>. At one time or another cooks of every culture that eat bread, eggs and milk have had a little of all of them left over, and one creative cook put them all together, threw in some dried fruit and baked it until it puffed and served it for breakfast on a cold morning.<\/p>\n An instant favorite, it has been handed down through generations, modified to habitats and tastes. For years my favorite version was made with pears caramelized in sugar, sliced almonds and a little almond extract served with hot maple syrup. I admit to having that as a one-course dinner more than just a few times.<\/p>\n One day when I was writing my cookbook<\/a> I thought about my grandmother\u2019s version of cheese souffl\u00e9 and it occurred to me that caramelized onion with good aged cheese would be a tasty and beautiful bread pudding partner for pheasant. So I began to play with different cheeses and Walla Walla Sweet onions. The recipe<\/a> that was included in the book is one of the most often commented upon since the book was published.<\/p>\n Savory bread puddings are easy to make, provide a good flavor base for cheeses and herbs and offer a creative alternative to potatoes or rice. Made in individual ramekins, they cook faster than in a larger pan and eliminate the done on the edges and runny in the middle that has happened to most cooks.<\/p>\n Last week I had a gorgeous rack of lamb and wanted to complement it with something that would balance the meat\u2019s richness with a sophisticated base flavor and interesting, multiple flavors. Somehow the soft texture of bread pudding with an ashy pecorino (semi soft, not salty Romano) and saut\u00e9ed wild Morels (reconstituted) with a little chopped, fresh tarragon for its earthy licorice flavor seemed right. Using ramekins guaranteed that everyone would get morels.<\/p>\n Two chops from the rack, some fresh, almost crunchy asparagus splashed with lemon juice and olive oil and a golden browned, bubbly individual wild morel and Pecorino Fresca bread pudding.<\/p>\n Wild Morel with Pecorino Fresca<\/p><\/div>\n Today I decided to experiment with six different savory bread puddings: one with Mexican flavors, one with sun dried tomatoes, one with sage and leeks, one with Feta and Kalamata olives, one with a distinctive, aged cheese and the morel and pecorino one from last week.<\/p>\n Basic Savory Bread Puddings<\/strong> Hints<\/span><\/p>\n Use a Rubber Spatula to Remove the Bread Pudding from the Ramekin<\/p><\/div><\/li>\n Ingredients<\/span><\/p>\n 4 tsp. unsalted butter, room temperature Procedure<\/span><\/p>\n Mexican<\/strong> Bread Pudding with Mexican Flavors<\/p><\/div>\n Sun Dried Tomato<\/strong> Sun Dried Tomato with Fresh Tomato Garnish<\/p><\/div>\n Sage and Leek<\/strong> Sage & Leek Bread Pudding<\/p><\/div>\n Feta and Kalamata Olive<\/strong> Feta and Kalamata Olive<\/p><\/div>\n Morel<\/strong><\/a>
\nServes 4 (6oz. ramekins)<\/p>\n\n
<\/a>
\n2 large slices of day old artisan bread cut into 1\u201d cubes with crust on
\n2 large eggs
\n1 pint half and half (not the fat free version)
\nUnsalted butter (room temperature) for lining the ramekins
\n\u00bc cup chopped fresh herbs plus 4 sprigs or leaves for garnish
\n6 oz. good cheese (different cheeses are specified for each of the 6), grated with medium cut.<\/p>\n\n
\nAged Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro, \u00bd tsp. sliced garlic clove per ramekin, \u00bc tsp. ground cumin per ramekin, thinly sliced Poblano chili, chopped red bell pepper, \u00bd tsp. Green Tabasco per ramekin.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nper ramekin: 1 tbs. mashed sun dried tomato, 1 tbs. fresh tomato (no juice or seeds), 1 tbs. finely chopped fresh basil, 1 tbs. fresh Ricotta cheese.\u00a0Cheese: \u00a0Parmegiano Reggiano<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nIf full size leeks, clean, slice and blanch 1\u201d of leek per ramekin. Cheeses: 1 tbs. fresh Ricotta, Pecorino Fresca (Tuscano). Fresh sage.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nper ramekin: 2 sliced Kalamata olives, 1 tsp. Feta cheese, \u00bd tsp. sliced garlic clove, rosemary and Pecorino cheese.<\/p>\n<\/a>
\nper ramekin: 2 medium large reconstituted Morels, chopped; \u00bd tsp. fresh tarragon, chopped; 1\u201d sliced leek or \u00bd tsp. chopped shallot. Pecorino Fresca.<\/p>\n