A Fabulous Brunch

I'll be in upstate New York this weekend visiting my daughter and her family. On Sunday we're haveing a few friends over for Brunch. Here's a easy recipe from my friend Sheilah Kaufmann. Who doesn't like chocolate?


CHOCOLATE CHERRY CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING
What combination could be better than chocolate and cherries! This is a quick, easy, and elegant dessert. From UPPER CRUSTS: Fabulous Ways To Use (Tired) Bread by Sheilah Kaufman

1 teaspoon butter
3 stale croissants
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup cream
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon Cassis (or vanilla)

Generously butter a 9x9-inch baking dish.
Cut croissants into 1/ 2-inch pieces (as best you can) and scatter cubes, chips and cherries into prepared baking dish.
In a large bowl whisk together sugar, cream, eggs, and Cassis until sugar dissolves.
Pour sugar/cream mixture through a sieve into prepared baking dish.
Gently push down cubes so they absorb the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.*
Preheat oven to 350F.
Bake for 40 minutes or until center is puffy and golden. Serve hot.
Serves 6.
*If in a rush, skip chilling. Instead pour only half of egg mixture in, push down to absorb; wait five minutes before pouring on some more but not all, leaving tops of cubes just above liquid line.

UPPER CRUSTS: Fabulous Ways to Use Bread--cooking teacher, cookbook author, and food editor, and culinary lecturer, Sheilah Kaufman, features one of America’s favorite comfort foods as the main ingredient. Specializing for 40 years in taking the intimidation out of cooking and entertaining--this delightful new collection, published by Capital Books, offers easy-to-prepare recipes for simply delectable appetizers, salads, soups, vegetable and main dishes, desserts and more for elegant celebrations and warm family gatherings. “… with homey and surprising flavors like these, you may end up buying bread just to let it go stale," said Claudia Kousoulas, Appetite for Books. www.cookingwithsheilah.com