Bread Pudding

I've been making tons of this stuff lately.  5 or 6 pieces of thick Texas toast, 3 eggs, cup of skim milk, cup of fat free half and half,  tbs or 2 of cinnamon,  tsp vanilla, 1/3-1/2 cup powdered sugar, some mixed fancy raisins, a spoonful of butter, a spoonful of raw honey, and a pinch of nutmeg.

Preheat oven to 350.  Tear the bread into smaller pieces, or cut, arrange in a glass square baking pan sprayed with pam.  Melt butter and honey together in the microwave, pour evenly over bread.  Sprinkle a good sized handful of raisins evenly in the pan.  Beat eggs, mix together milk, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, and sugar.  Pour over bread and let absorb for 10-15 minutes.  Sprinkle a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg over the top.  Put in oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, until it springs back when touched. 

Really fast and delicious.  I love having a little in the morning with a cup of tea and a few strawberries. 

Pulla Bread

Pronounced "boo-la", this is a Finnish bread that my mother's friend makes every year around the holidays.  It's SO amazing.  Braided, with cinnamon, cherries, and big granules of sugar on the top.  Slice a piece, pop it in the toaster and butter it....wow.  It goes without saying, I look forward to this EVERY year. Yum!