Mulate's Homemade Bread Pudding

What do you do with stale bread? In New Orleans, you either feed the ducks in City Park or you make bread pudding. If you have hamburger buns, you make Mulate's Homemade Bread Pudding. If you're watching your weight, put on a little Cajun music and two-step off the calories the way they do at the popular restaurant and dance hall near the Convention Center.

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup sugar
• 6 hamburger buns
• ½ cup raisins

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, whip eggs, and then add vanilla, milk, and half-and-half. Mix well. Add sugar and mix well.
3. Grease a 9x13 pan.
4. Break hamburger buns into pieces and place in greased pan.
5. Sprinkle raisins evenly throughout the bun pieces.
6. Pour egg mixture over buns.
7. Using your fingers, make sure that all bun pieces are soaked with the mixture.
8. Bake for approximately 45 minutes.
9. If you prefer a firmer texture, chill for about 2 hours, then reheat for serving.

Ingredients (Butter Rum Sauce):

• ½ stick butter
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup half-and-half (or heavy cream)

Instructions:

1. Melt butter. Add sugar and cook on medium heat for 3 minutes.
2. Add half-and-half and rum and cook for 5 more minutes or until slightly thickened.
3. Serve warm over bread pudding. Serves 8-10.