Wonderful Christmas

Slow Cooker Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding by frances robson

Good evening and come on in for a cup of coffee and will soon have some warm, bread pudding for you. I will share the recipe with you later and it is really good and one I concocted to use leftover breads of all kinds. We don't throw away anything or almost anything.

I hope ya'll had a good Christmas for we surely did. Our children and one grandchild was with us plus 1 grand dog and 2 yellow kittens. They were all well behaved and got along famously- even the children and grandchild. There were no fights, mostly smiles and though each of them are most opinionated, individuals and stand their ground, there was no bloodshed and we all had a great time. Just wish our granddaughter and her family could have been with us for we had one more sofa bed we could open up - love a full house.

They took really good care of their mama and daddy with gifts. We got a new coffee maker, Starbucks and Jittery Joe coffees and homemade jellies and preserves. My great brother and his wife provided the teas, hot chocolate and scone mixes. These will all be great with homemade scones - can't wait to bake them. We enjoy scones and I have found the Sticky Finger mixes are the best. The only problem is they are hard to find around here and World Market is the one place I can always find them and that is several hours away. When I do find them I buy a bunch.

If you have never heard of Jittery Joe's coffee - you have never been to Athens, GA for this is the place which keeps UGA students wired for class. It is a coffee shop and the students keep it packed along with locals for the coffee is good, hot and strong. Their warehouse is in Athens and you can buy the beans or they will grind it for you and put it in a can with their unusual label. They have 7 shops with 5 in Georgia, 1 in New York and 1 in Dallas and you can order online. You have to try it for it is strong but mellow and delicious. Add the fresh baked scones and the fig preserves our son and his wife brought and you have a feast.

Now I will share the bread pudding recipe with you. I like to make bread puddings and most always use the slow cooker for it is so easy and a great way to use day old breads or older of any sort. You can use a single type of bread but mostly I mix lots of kinds including biscuits and muffins. Leftover doughnuts and pannetone bread make great puddings but most any kind of bread can be included and I like the mixed breads and I always toast them slightly before cutting them in cubes. Try it and if you don't have a slow cooker, shame on you, but you can also bake them in the oven.

This is my latest concoction for I had several breads and some oranges from our tree which I needed to use. If you don't have fresh oranges, use juice from the carton and you can substitute raisins for the dried cranberries - use what you have and don't run to the store for one recipe.


Slow Cooker or Crock Pot Orange Cranberry Bread Pudding

Ingredients:
3 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
½ cup orange juice – fresh squeezed if possible
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tsp. Orange flavoring
1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg or ¼ tsp. ground
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups lightly toasted bread cubes - use any breads you have- mix all kinds
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 apple quartered, cored, and sliced thinly
orange zest

Preparation:
Combine milk, eggs, orange juice, and flavoring ingredients in smaller bowl. Pour over bread cubes- gently stirring until cubes are thoroughly moistened but still in cubes. Add cranberries and stir gently. Place mixture in a butter sprayed slow cooker. Place sliced apples on top. Cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve hot or cold.
Breads I used – sliced white bread, 1 cinnabon muffin, 1 sandwich thin, 1 small biscuit, sliced whole wheat bread , couple slice of pannetone bread– use whatever leftover breads you have – will taste good.

I hope you will try this recipe for it is good and good for you.

Ya'll be careful going home and come back to see us real soon.

Nuff said,

The Georgia Peach