There will be a potluck tomorrow at the Ladies Bible Class that I attend. It was said that each of us should bring a dish that you crave during this season.

“One dish???” Ho pensato che. Bene, that’s the most difficult part!!! I absolutely love food. And my mind is always full of ideas. Ricette, ah, I have tons and tons of them, as well as cravings.

“I have to narrow down all the options a bit,” Mi sono detto… altrimenti, I’ll wind up showing up there empty-handed.

Since apple, pumpkin, pecan, and sweet potato dishes are my fall favs – with chocolate and bread being my all time-favorites regardless of the season– I decided to make a Chocolate-Pumpkin-Pecan Bread Pudding this time.

All I can say is that I wish you were there to taste at least a spoonful. I must admit that I made not one but two baking dishes of the bread pudding– one for the ladies and one for my family, naturalmente. It just wouldn’t be fair to them (read ”me”) to not be able to enjoy some too, don’t you agree?

Enjoy the season — and this plate-licking dessert too!!!!!!!!

Chocolate-zucca-Pecan Pane Budino

Cedere: Circa 10 portions

(Segmento: Dal mio tavolo Yours To)

For the Bread Pudding

Ingredienti:

5 uova di grandi dimensioni

2 (15-oz. or 425g) cans pumpkin

1-1/4 cups whole milk

1-1/4 cups heavy whipping cream

1-1/2 tazze di zucchero semolato

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cucchiaino di noce moscata

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 cucchiaino di sale

1 cucchiaio di estratto puro di vaniglia

1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 (12-oz. or 340g) French bread loaf, cut into 1-inch or 2.5 cm pieces**

** Per una gluten-free version, use a gluten-free bread.

Indicazioni:

In una grande ciotola, whisk together the eggs. Poi, mix the next 10 ingredients until well blended. Add the bread pieces, stirring gently to thoroughly coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 8 a 24 orario.

Preheat oven to 350° F (about 180° C).

Spoon bread mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake, coperto, for 35 verbale. Uncover and bake for additional 15 verbale. During these last 15 minutes of baking, prepare the Chocolate-Pecan Sauce as follows.

For the Chocolate-Pecan Sauce

Ingredienti:

1 cup pecans, tritato

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/2 burro non salato della tazza

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1/2 tazza di cacao amaro in polvere

2 cucchiaini di estratto di vaniglia puro

Heat pecans in a medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, 3 a 5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.

Cook brown sugar, burro, corn syrup, and cocoa powder in a small saucepan over medium heat, mescolando di tanto in tanto, for 3 a 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and pecans.

Remove bread pudding from the oven; drizzle/spoon with the Chocolate-Pecan Sauce. Bake for 5 minutes or until sauce is begins to bubble. Serve by itself or with vanilla ice cream. Godere!

Nota: Recipe based on Caramel-Pecan-Pumpkin Bread Puddings from Southern Living magazine.

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