Every Day Bread Pudding

This is the recipe you drag out whenever you have a bit too much bread. Better yet, after making this once, I think you'll find it's so simple that you don't need a recipe anymore.

this is a condensed-format recipe, designed for a pocket recipe book called "Learn to Cook" I made and gave out to random people at the Pike Market for a few months in 2009. some of the ingredients may be difficult to find outside of the market, and can be substituted or disregarded.

[Prep: cut bread cubes, make flavor base; do these a day ahead if you want to.]
[Production: assemble and bake.]

Flavor base*
About 12-14 oz stale bread, cut into cubes
3 eggs
1/2 C milk, cream or half & half (depending on how sassy you're feeling)
1 t kosher salt
1/2 t black pepper

[preheat oven to 350 degrees]
[beat the eggs and milk together with the salt and pepper.]
[mix everything together and let sit for a couple of minutes to let the bread soak everything in, then press the mixture into an olive oil-coated baking dish. cover and bake for 20 minutes or until set. allow to cool, cut and serve.]

Apple and Kale Bread Salad

Ingredients:

1 loaf bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

2 yellow onions, sliced ¼ inch thick

1 bunch lacinato kale, sliced ¼ inch thick

2 T oil

salt and pepper TT

½ bunch celery, sliced ¼ inch thick

4 apples, diced

½ bunch parsley, sliced

1 bunch thyme, minced

1 lemon, juiced

salt and pepper TT

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400. Toast bread for 10 minutes.

Heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add oil, onion and kale, and season with salt and pepper. Cook 10 minutes, or until onion begins to caramelize.

Combine with all remaining ingredients and serve.