Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE CHUNK BREAD PUDDING WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE BRANDY SAUCE

Category: Bread Pudding

1 lb loaf day-old French bread
3 1/2 cups milk
1 cup half-and-half
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
2 (4-oz) bittersweet chocolate bars, chopped

White Chocolate Brandy Sauce:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 (4 oz) white chocolate bar; chopped
3 tbsp brandy

Tear bread into small pieces; place in large bowl. Add milk and half-and-half; let mixture stand 10 minutes.

Combine eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla and salt; add to bread, stirring well. Stir in chopped chocolate. Spoon mixture into lightly greased 13-by-9-inch pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325 for 55 minutes or until firm and lightly browned. Cut into squares and serve warm with White Chocolate Brandy Sauce.

Brandy sauce: Combine first three ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; add white chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts. Stir in brandy. Serve warm.

Makes 9 servings.