Louisiana Recipe: Pujo Street Cafe's Bread Pudding

Perhaps bread pudding got its start as a way to use up stale bread, but this yummy dessert is certainly worthy of a prime seat at the table. Pujo St. Café in Lake Charles serves a popular version with rum sauce.

Ingredients:
• 15 oz. white sandwich bread
• 2 1/2 cups sugar
• 5 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups skim milk
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
 
In a large bowl, tear bread into small pieces. Add the rest of ingredients and stir until well mixed. Coat a 9- by 13- inch pan and pour mixture in. Let come to room temperature, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 45 minutes or until puffed up and golden brown. Let stand for 30 minutes before slicing.

Rum Sauce
• 1/4 lb. butter, softened to room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup white rum

Cream butter and sugar in mixer at high speed, until light and creamy. At low speed add egg and mix until well blended. Then add rum and mix until blended. Mix approximately 20 minutes until light and fluffy. Serve atop the bread pudding.

Recipe courtesy of Louisiana Culinary Trails.