Life is SO busy...right? I don't know about you but for me, now that my kids are 9 and almost 12, I feel like I need that time-turner-thingie that Hermoine Granger had in one of the Harry Potter books, so I can be in 2 or 3 places at once. One of those places I would choose to be is a place where I would have nothing to do but enjoy a peaceful, leisurely day with some great music playing as I got down to business in the kitchen - making whatever I felt like for no reason at all!
2 weeks ago I got my hands on a gorgeous new cookbook called Baking By Hand written by the founders of A & J Artisan Bakers. I instantly loved the look of the book and then as I began to flip through it, I loved both the recipes as well as their story and message.
I am passionate about teaching my kids to cook, especially my 9 year old daughter who has been my almost constant companion in the kitchen since she was about 5-6. She's always like "whatch makin?" "Why did you make that without me?" "Can you put ingredients out for me and my friends and can we do a cooking competition?" She's kind of obsessed! Which led me to begin teaching her some of the basics. Some of which we share on this site. I realized as I flipped through Baking By Hand, that I have yet to teach her anything about breadmaking. I have shied away from that skill myself and I really don't know why.
Making bread is as basic and fundamental as it gets. As you stand there working the dough with your hands, you can instantly imagine a simpler time, you could be your great-great-great grandmother standing in her kitchen making something wonderful and delicious for her family. Those thoughts are really cool to me! For a number of years both bakeries and supermarkets have been offering artisan breads and it's easy to just pick up a loaf or two and use it however you choose. But making it yourself, especially making it with and for someone you love, then ripping a hunk of hot delicious bread off and popping it into your mouth - that is a memory that will last forever. Way better than just popping a loaf into your shopping cart...right??
This week my daughter is going to pick out 3 things she wants to make from this book and we will get down to business. I am sure at least one of them will then be remade for our Thanksgiving table and that makes me happy!
I already have a number of recipes in mind I want to try out...their Asiago Chili Bread sounds amazing! The book has a Marinated Olive Sourdough that I know my husband, mom and sister will go crazy for. I am interested in the Cranberry Walnut Bread, Sticky Buns, Concord Grape Pie, Lime Curd Macaroon Tart (YUM!!) and some of the sweet and savory tarts. The book offers 6...6 bread pudding recipes, I had to make the Spiced Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Maple Glaze which my daughter roasted the pumpkin for (as well as learned how to clean, boil and bake the seeds). It was delicious, it was flavorful, moist, crisp and everything a bread pudding should be. The Maple Glaze stole the show - my kids could not stop "sampling" it, lol! I also liked the fact that it had no alcohol in it so it was something the whole family could enjoy. The Caramel Bourbon Pecan Bread Pudding is next on my list and I am SOOOO going to add in some bacon. I.Can't.Wait! Ooooh and their is a chocolate bread pudding too...I have never had chocolate in a bread pudding but this looks a-mazing!
The book also offers sandwich ideas for the breads you will make and pickles...yes 5 different pickle recipes. I LOVE that!!
Anyway as you can tell, I think this book is fabulous. Sometimes when I look through a cookbook for the first time I am excited to make a few recipes...you know it's a good one when you literally want to make half of the recipes in a book.
I was not compensated to write about this book, I did receive a copy to review and what I just told you is straight talk from me to you. I did ask for a second copy to give away to one of you...because after all, sharing good things is just a fun thing to do!! I personally am also throwing in a $25.00 gift card so the ingredients for your first recipe or two are on me...maybe one of those recipes will grace YOUR Thanksgiving table (a thought which makes me smile)!
Spiced Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Maple Glaze
3 large eggs
7 oz whole milk
7 oz half & half
⅔ cup sugar
6 oz roasted pumpkin (fresh is so much better for this than canned)
1 ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 pound of day old or stale challah or brioche cut into a 1-inch dice
Maple Glaze
1 ¼ cup confectioners sugar
2 TBS maple syrup
1 oz half & half
To find out how to roast a pumpkin - click here and my 9 year old daughter will show you how 🙂
Whisk the eggs, milk, half & half, sugar, pumpkin and spices in a large bowl until combined and smooth.
Ad in the bread pieces and toss well, until all are coated with the custard. Allow the bread to soak for 30 minutes to an hour. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees, scrape your mixture into a greased pan or paper mold and bake until golden brown and firm when pressed. About 45 minutes.
For the glaze, combine the above ingredients and stir until smooth. Drizzle over top your cooled bread pudding and serve.
Colleen's Notes: I actually did not add in the sugar to the recipe since the pumpkin we roasted was actually very sweet. The original recipe for the Maple Glaze called for maple sugar which I did not have, so I improvised by adding maple syrup instead - it was delicious.
Good Luck & Enjoy!!
Noelle says
What an excellent recipe! looks easy and delicious!
kim @ DESIGN + LIFE + KIDS says
I think this recipe sounds fantastic! I need a good excuse to chop up our pumpkins too!
Anonymous says
I've never had Bread pudding. The cookbook looks amazing as does the dessert!
Megan R.
Alexisc4990(at)aol.com
Cory H. says
This cookbook looks amazing...I must admit my mouth watered up just thinking about a warm slice of homemade bread, fresh out of the oven with butter and choke cherry jam on it. Yummmm!!!
Cheers 🙂
Anonymous says
I'm new to your blog, but I've been a customer at A&J King since they opened. Everything I've ever had has been amazing. Now your blog has a new reader!
MktngMaven says
I'm lucky enough to live in the same town as A&J King and I'm glad to get introduced to this blog. It won't stop me from visiting, but I'd love a copy of the book to try and recreate some goodies at home.
Anonymous says
Sounds divine! I love A&J. They have some of the best pastries and bread around.
Anonymous says
email: nicolecmoy@gmail.com
Lexiquin says
The Bread Pudding sounds delicious! It's one of my favorite things to make--good for breakfast or dessert. Thanks for the giveaway.
Julie Harris says
I love bread pudding and will have to try this, the book looks good and would be a great Christmas gift for my mom as she loves to bake!
Heather says
I HAVE to have this cookbook and I HAVE to make this bread pudding. I am so in love with pumpkin recipes. Just bought my "cheese pumpkin" to roast for freezing puree.
Kim says
For the first time this year I had pumpkin bread pudding and it was the best! Changed my mind about what bread puddings could be. The book looks awesome!
Asha Shivakumar says
A great cookbook, would be great for the coming holiday as gifts.
The pudding look pretty darn good.
Heather Kelly says
Awesome bread pudding! I can't wait to make it! I would also love to find out what other recipes are in the cookbook!
sharonjo says
The premise of this cookbook is interesting. I never knead breads by hand but always use either the KitchenAid mixer or my bread machine to do it for me. I grew up with a mother who made lots of homemade bread and always kneaded it by hand. I loved watching her but never did try it myself. Baking bread with you daughter is such a great idea!
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
Between the recipes you're posting and my kids bugging me for homemade bread, I may have to start making bread again.
I am going to try this with store-bought gluten-free bread just to see how it holds up.
rjcqh says
The bread pudding looks amazing & the cookbook looks interesting.
Cindy says
My knees go weak at the mention of bread pudding, but adding pumpkin; oh, my! I've always preferred using my hands, the connection to food is stronger, so this book is right up my alley!
Gianna says
My husband loves bread pudding so i'm very interested 🙂
Sheryl says
I love pumpkin and bread pudding so the recipe sounds delicious to me! I have been wanting to do more baking now that ir is fall. The cookbook sounds fabulous!
Ara Peet says
That bread pudding sounds incredible! I'm definitely going to try making it this weekend! I can't wait, thanks for sharing your recipe!
Natalie says
This bread pudding looks like something my Grandma would make...yum!
Anonymous says
I think more people should bake from scratch since it is so much healthier for them so I'm very appreciative of anything that promotes that.
fruitcrmble AT Comcast DOT net
Anonymous says
I tried to subscribe via email but it wouldn't let me - something about the feed not being enabled. whatever that means 🙁
fruitcrmble AT Comcast DOT net
judy c says
I think the bread pudding looks super yummy. I love to bake and am always interested in new recipes, so this cookbook looks like it would be a great one for me. I would share it with my mother too, as she also likes to cook and bake. Thanks for the giveaway!
Mer says
That bread pudding sounds fantastic, and I love the idea of baking by hand...I have so many fond memories of being in my grandmother's kitchen and handling dough for all sorts of delicious things. It's nice to slow down a bit and do it by hand (plus I think kneading dough can be a great way to work out some anger!)