Bread Pudding - Great way to use left over not so fresh bread

This recipe was the frugal housewives way of using up left over bread (back in Malta, bread was delivered to your door every morning - and sometimes even twice - by the baker himself.) Bread was also an important part of your meal. The best bread to use would be a traditional loaf and not the 'sliced' sandwich type but you really can use any type.

INGREDIENTS

1 loaf bread (a few days old)

50 g butter

125 g sugar ( I mix brown and regular)

2-3 eggs

Some milk (to soak bread in)

1 apple peeled and grated (optional)

5 tablespoons cocoa powder (try use a good quality one and not drinking chocolate!)

200 g pine nuts, chopped

200 g raisins

2 tablespoons candied peel

2 teaspoons mixed spice ( I use nutmeg and cinnamon - but it’s a matter of taste!)

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 tablespoon brandy

1 tablespoon extra sugar for the top - coarse brown is the best!

METHOD

Cut bread into squares and soak in some milk until soft.

Pre heat oven to 200C and grease a rectangular baking dish measuring about 30cm by 20cm. Squeeze out excess milk from the bread. (get your hands in there!)

Put the soggy bread in a processor with the other ingredients except the dried fruit and pine nuts and mix well.

Add the dried fruit and pine nuts and pulse until combined.

Spread in the baking dish and flatten surface with a spatula.

Sprinkle the extra sugar on top.

Bake for about an hour, until it feels firm . serve warm or at room temperature - but I also love it cold !

Pesto

It's important to use pine nuts and not walnuts as some recipes state - the difference is amazing. This is a great Italian sauce that's best with pasta.

Making pesto by hand in a mortar produces the most authentic and delicious results but a food processor on a low setting can be used to gently and minimally chop leaves before proceeding.

Delicious tossed with pasta, pesto also makes an excellent topping for pizza. Try a little served along with grilled chicken or drizzled over slices of ripe summer tomatoes and fresh mozzarella.

Ingredients

¼ cup pine nuts

2 cups tightly packed basil leaves

2 garlic cloves, lightly smashed, peel removed

Coarse sea salt

6 tablespoons freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

2 tablespoons freshly grated pecorino romano cheese

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

Place pine nuts in a medium skillet and heat over medium-low heat.

Cook, occasionally shaking the pan back and forth over the heat, until nuts are toasted, 6 to 8 minutes.

Transfer nuts to a plate to cool completely.

Rinse basil and gently, but thoroughly, pat dry with paper towels.

Place in a processorwith cooled pine nuts, garlic and pinch salt.

Use the food processor on a low setting to turn basil into a paste.

Add both cheeses into mixture to combine.

In a slow and steady steam, add oil, keeping processor on lowest setting (as if you were making mayonnaise).

Pesto is best used the same day but keeps, its surface covered with a thin layer of olive oil and tightly covered, chilled, for 3 days. You can also hermetically seal it in a jar.

To dress pasta, toss with hot pasta (just cooked and drained), add a tablespoon or two of butter and toss again. Serve at once.