Wishing a Happy Birthday to my Mom with bread pudding!

Today is my mom's birthday. It took me a really long time to think of a good recipe to post for her, because like all good moms she never thinks about herself, so even desert is about her family. Then I remembered how much she loves Rino's bread pudding. Rino's pudding has rum in it but I didn't think mom would have any rum around so this version is with out.

When you make bread pudding start out with some day old bread, cut the bread into bite sized pieces.
1 loaf day old bread, get something nice from the bakery, no wonder bread here!

4 eggs, at room temperature

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 tsp. Mexican Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
4 cups whole milk (you can use skim but you will lose the creaminess)
1/4 cup dried fruit, this can be apricots, cranberries, cherries, typically raisins are used
(If you want to add some rum flavor like Rino does, use 3 3/4 cups of milk and add 1/4 cup of spiced rum)

Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with the Pam for baking. Add the bread cubes in the pan. In a bowl, combine together the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt until well blended. Add the milk and whisk until combined. Pour the mixture over the bread cubes. Let stand, pressing down on the bread to help it soak up the liquid like a sponge, until it is evenly soaked, about 20 minutes. Preheat an oven to 350°F. Scatter the fruit evenly over the top of the soaked bread. Set the baking dish in a large, roasting pan. (like the one you cook a turkey in) Add very hot tap water to the roasting pan to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish. Bake 45 to 55 minutes. (Check for doneness with a knife like when you bake a cake)

Serve warm, you can sprinkle powdered sugar on top if you want it to look prettier. Add a candle for birthdays!

Happy birthday Mom! You are the best mom ever!