Bread Pudding ala Mode

When you find yourself with more bread that you need or want, what is there to do? Make bread pudding! This can be a make ahead recipe to do when you have free time and eat it warm later. I make my bread pudding with raisins because that's how my mother made them when we were kids. Instructions below!

Needed:
10 slices of bread. I used slices approximately 5 in x 5 in
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 small box raisins, optional
4 eggs, beaten
2 c milk
3/4 white sugar
1 t ground cinnamon
1 capful vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Pour half of the melted butter into the loaf pan making all sides are coated. This lets the pudding bake well without sticking on the sides.

3. Tear bread onto small pieces and place directly into a loaf pan. Drizzle remaining melted butter over the bread then scatter the raisins over the bread/butter mix.

4. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and add the milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over the bread in the loaf pan and make sure the bread is well soaked.

5. At this point, you can either put in the fridge overnight with a plastic wrap covering it and bake in the morning for approximately 45 minutes.  Or you can bake directly for 45 minutes.

6. Let cool slightly to be able to slice to serve.

Best eaten warm with a scoop of ice cream--ala mode!!