I rarely make dessert for myself..can you believe that? When I make desserts its always with someone else in mind. I guess that’s part of being a mom and a woman. Its built into us that we must think about other people first in our lives. Its not bad, its what makes being a woman/mother so special. The part I hate is feeling guilty when I ACTUALLY do something for myself! Its like my brain trips out on me and says wait..this isn’t  right! I have had to through the years..teach myself with a whole lot of Gods grace how to do something nice for myself and not feel guilty about it. One of my ” pet peeves” is selfishness, and I always try to stay clear of it. There is a difference though in rewarding  your self in a balanced way. God delights in us to do it  and actually I’ve learned doing nothing for myself  is a form of pride. It’s so I can say “look at me, I never do anything for myself..always giving..yadda yadda” Yuck, that’s pride it is just  as bad as being self centered. So all of that to explain why I am making this recipe! HA ha..to funny!

So, anyhow… I went strawberry picking in gorgeous South Carolina strawberry fields the other week and I had a thought..what would I LIKE to make with these and EAT myself???

I am a  comfort foods girl, and wow, the longer I live in the south, the more I am understanding the term COMFORT FOOD! Its all buttered, sauced, stewed, soft, tender and sweet ANYTHING! Yes! Come to mama!

This bread pudding I used to make back in my restaurant days.  I used to make it in all flavor combinations. What is so neat is you can pick any bread you want and add a flavor to the custard and add nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, and more. Then the sauces you serve with it can be endless combinations. I choose vanilla bean with a challah ( egg bread) because I wanted to show case the amazing flavor of the fresh strawberry sauce that steals the show. Warm vanilla bean custard bread pudding with sweet strawberry sauce!

Yes! and

Please!

Thank you!! BTW.. if you are like me and have a hard time doing something for your self..work on it. When you take of yourself,( in a balanced way)  you have the ability to GIVE MORE to others, which is a beautiful thing! Ok, I’m gonna go enjoy my bread pudding now..maybe I inspired you!

Bread pudding:

1 pound of challah bread cut into cubes. You can also use french stale bread

4 cups half and half

8 eggs yolks

1 tsp vanilla bean paste

3/4 cup sugar

Strawberry sauce:

2 cups fresh strawberries cut up

1/4 cup of sugar

1, You will need a 9 x 9 glass deep dish, or deep pie dish. Spray with pan spray and add your bread cubes

2. Combine in a bowl the egg yolks, vanilla paste and sugar and whisk until pale and smooth

3. Heat half and half and when it just comes to a boil pull it off and SLOWLY add, whisking into your egg mixture

4. Pour over the bread in the dish. Press the bread down so it is all soaked in milk mixture.

5. Let it soak over night or for at least 3 hours

6. Bake 350 for 50-60 minutes or when its set, you should not see any liquid

7. In a sauce pan add the berries and sugar and string on med heat, cook until they area cooked down. About 20 minutes. You can serve the sauce with chunks of berries or run through food processor and make it smooth

Serve the pudding warm with the warm sauce and ENJOY!

This is a great make ahead recipe. Make the the pudding and let it soak over night and pull out and bake an hour before you want to enjoy! The sauce can be make several days before and store in air tight container of refig. Its delicious over ice cream too! 🙂 OH and I gotta say this..if you want it gluten free..just use GF bread! That easy!