Before I forget, the next date will be Dec 13 at 4:00, Ellyn's house again (thanks for hosting at your lovely residence, by the way!) Too bad Evan wasn't there. Just kidding-don't kill me. The pick is Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen.
Here's the recipe for the Bacon and Onion Bread Pudding (taken from Cook's Illustrated Best Slow and Easy Recipes - just in case they are reading our blog and sue me for copyright infringement or something).
1 6-10 inch French baguette, torn into inch pieces (about 5-6 cups)
butter for greasing the pan
4 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup grated cheese - I used Parmesan but a mix is fine too.
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves - I used a teaspoon dried and crushed - use to taste b/c it can be overpowering
1 minced garlic clove - about 1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
4 slices of bacon
half medium onion - sliced or chopped thinly
1. Heat oven to 450 and brown the bread (in single layer) for 12 minutes until nice and crunchy. Turn once during cycle.
2. Meanwhile cook the bacon until well-browned and crisp but not burnt - just so it will crumble easily. Works just at well in the microwave. Let cool. (These people seem to like to do things the slowwwww way)
3. Cover and cook the onion in some of the bacon oil for about 10 minutes - medium high until they begin to sweat and brown (seeing a pattern here?)
4. Reduce heat to 350. Grease the pan.
5. Whisk the yolks, cream, milk, 1/4 cup parm., thyme, garlic, s&p together in a bowl. Add the toasted bread and toss to coat evenly. Let sit in fridge for 20-30 minutes until liquid is well absorbed. Toss occasionally.
6. Pour half the mixture into pan - layer with bacon and onions and more cheese. Then put rest of bread mixture on top and but the rest of the cheese on top of that. Bake about 45 minutes or an hour if you like it dryer.
Enjoy!
P.S. Can I just say that Luke Honeythunder is the best screen name ever?
Posts
8 comments:
Thanks for hosting Ellyn - and to everyone who brought food.
I am still wavering on if I will attempt to finish The Gathering...glad to hear I wasn't the only one that had issues with it.
I promise to make up for my lack of snacks at the last meeting...I may even make something now that I have an oven (although, don't hold your breath on that one).
The release of The Beedle and the Bard on Thursday is going to cut into my Water for Elephants time :) Also, I'll hopefully be bringing 2009 CD's for anyone who wants them (you don't have to take them, my feelings won't be hurt).
Speaking of the Beedle and Bard, I just got word that mine is shipping out today! Who else is excited? Can you feel the joy? Christine, you and I should plan to discuss at book club...sorry all you HP haters, but it must be done.
Just finished Water For Elephants. Great pick - not too deep, and super quick to read. Plus, it has the stamp of approval from Steve's new BFF, Scott Bruckmann, so we all must love it.
Yes, thanks for hosting Ellyn; and thanks for the CD Mary. You're right, the Scotts make some good songs--who woulda known? (I guess we share a taste for sad, slightly morbid music with barely decipherable lyrics). I just finished Austen's Mansfield Park--what fun, wonderful worlds Austen makes!--all fancy balls and horse-drawn coaches and no hint of death. Great escape! She might be my favorite
Is the next meeting really this Saturday? That went by so quick. D- I'm officially changing my name to Fluffy Cotton.
I think we only had three weeks, because we didn't want to meet too close to Christmas. The book was an excellent bus read--zipped along and I finishes in two weeks! Some of our books have been too dense for me to accomplish much on my 15 minute bus ride. By the time I'm back in, it's time to disembark. But "Elephants" was always compelling and didn't require me to "reestablish my book mindset." If that makes any sense.
Of course we'll discuss Beedle the Bard! I'd start another Book Club--all Harry Potter...if I had the time.
I should be bringing CD's if I get the packaging I need in time (slim dual cd cases are very hard to find, grrrr). Hopefully they can hold a candle to Mary's. I gotta warn you guys, most of the songs are pretty up beat... ;)
I am glad to hear that the book is a quick, light, enjoyable read as I have yet to start it and may not get to it until Friday or Saturday a.m. My 1/2 marathon training is interfering with my reading time during the week.
I'm also trying to finish my current book - The City of Falling Angels (by the author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil). I never read Garden, which was supposed to be excellent (saw the movie and have a hard time reading a book after seeing the movie), but City is pretty good. John Berendt works around a specific event by focusing on the characters involved - as in the crazies in Garden. Different if nothing else and easy to read if you can keep track of all the different people involved.
Post a Comment