300 down….
Well, here it is, my 300th post. I find it hard to believe that I have made 300 things for this blog(give or take a few for a restaurant review).
And when I say make something for this blog, I mean just that. Most people are surprised to learn that I make all my baked goods specifically for my blog. Even when I make dessert for friends coming over I think about what I already have on my blog and what I have put up recently. I try desperately to have variety. Sometimes it works out, and sometimes I have repeaters…but nonetheless, I try.
I recently read an article by Lisa(La Mia Cucina) over at Foodie View about comfort foods. Lisa a big fan of my croissant bread pudding and had asked to highlight it in her story, which she did. It got me thinking how bread pudding is my favorite dessert and yet, I only have 3 recipes for it on my blog. So I set out to make a bread pudding for my 300th post.
I have become obsessed with Ben and Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream as of late. If you are not familiar with it, here is the description(which doesn’t do it justice): Sweet Cream Cinnamon Ice Cream with Chunks of Oatmeal Cookies & Fudge. I only allow myself one pint a month as I usually eat it in one sitting. I thought about making giant oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches with cinnamon ice cream(I still might do that…this Spring or Summer), but again the bread pudding was in the back of my mind.
So I made a loaf cake using the flavors of an oatmeal cookie. Even if you just bake the loaf you are good to go. I almost felt guilty letting that moist cake sit out over night all chopped up and spread out to get stale. But I had a mission. When I awoke the next day, the loaf was good and stale. I scattered the pieced of loaf with raisins(I’m a golden girl) and soaked it in a cinnamon-nutmeg custard. Baked it in a bath and hoped that the outcome would be good. Because, you just never know. I come up with a lot of ideas…and often they flop. One good idea in theory that didn’t turn out in reality was my rice crispy treat fried ice cream, live and learn.
Flop this did not, and I found myself at the bottom of the bowl in no time. Of course, I drowned it in toffee sauce as I do most of my bread puddings. A necessary evil in my opinion.
So thanks to all of you who read this little blog of mine. I certainly didn’t think I would be lasting to 300 posts and now I can’t imagine not having this blog.
Oatmeal Raisin Bread Pudding
Oatmeal Bread
2 large eggs
12 TBSP unsalted butter, melted
1/3 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup canola oil
½ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup old-fashion oats
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground fresh nutmeg
¼ tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350F.
Whisk together eggs, oil, butter, buttermilk and sugars.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices.
Pour the liquid ingredients into the bowl of the dry ingredients and stir until everything is incorporated. Scrape batter into a greased and floured 9-x-5-inch loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes. You can check to see if done by inserting a knife into the center and it comes out clean. Let rest for 5 minutes. Run knife around the sides of the loaf pan and remove loaf. Continue to cool on a rack.
Take the oatmeal loaf and cut it into 2-inch pieces. Lay them out over night uncovered to become stale.
Cinnamon Custard
2 ½ cups heavy cream
3 egg yolks
4 eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp fresh ground nutmeg
Whisk together all the ingredients until completely incorporated. Set aside until needed.
To make the bread pudding:
Preheat oven to 325F.
Butter a 8-x-8-inch pan. Place ½ of the bread pieces into the pan. Sprinkle ½ cup golden raisins over the bread. Pour ½ the custard mixture over the bread and press gently to allow the liquid to soak in. Scatter the remaining bread evenly. Followed by another ½ cup raisins and then the last of the custard. Again, press the bread down gently to allow the custard to absorb into the bread.
Place bread pudding into a pan that is large enough to hold both the pan and a water bath. Pour enough hat water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the pudding pan. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Remove pan from oven(carefully) and remove from water bath. Serve warm and with toffee sauce.
Toffee Sauce
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
Stir brown sugar and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add cream and vanilla and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
So I normally stick to drooling over your desserts, but I may just have to make this for my dad. He LOVES oatmeal raisin cookies and bread pudding is high on the list too. This seems like a perfect combo!
I’m not allowed to buy that flavor of B&J’s ice cream any more.
I think I could still manage to put away a pint of that! Sooooooo good. 
February 20th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Congratulations on reaching 300! Your blog is so inspiring. I try to get out of my comfort zone in the kitchen, and your posts give me a lot to think about and provide insight on techniques I have never tried.
February 20th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
That’s awesome, Peabody. Congrats to you. It takes a lot of work to maintain a blog, and even more to bake something for it nearly every day. You’re one of my daily reads.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
The oatmeal bread alone sounds really good without being a pudding. How does the bread taste just eaten by itself?
February 20th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Happy 300th post! This pudding looks devine.
February 20th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Your desserts and the sheer variety never cease to amaze me. I
February 21st, 2008 at 12:00 am
Della- Yes, I found the bread to be lovely. But if I were to make it to not use in the pudding, I would add a tad more sugar and the raisins directly to it.
February 21st, 2008 at 1:49 am
Congratulations on your 300th post! I also bake for my blog and people think I’m crazy. Like what a waste of money. Well, I share all my treats with everyone around me and I get such joy by planning, baking and photographing that it’s so worth it.
I love bread pudding and this one looks soooo gooey… yum! I nned to make it!!!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:58 am
Congratulations! What a fabulous accomplishment! Your recipes, pictures and stories are always a treat to read and look at. Very impressive concoction you have here. I love when experiments come out just how you want them! Looking forward to another 300!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:04 am
You are a golden girl Peabody even when I find you at the bottom of a bowl of bread pudding like this!
Congrats on 300!
The pudding looks totally awesome!
February 21st, 2008 at 2:14 am
Wowsa, what a dessert! You’ve done your 300th post proud!
February 21st, 2008 at 3:27 am
Congratulations on your 300 post for your blog…I read you every day and certainly hope that you find the dedication and TIME to post 300 more recipes for us all to try and to enjoy.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:26 am
I have been drooling over your blog for about 3 weeks now. This looks wonderful. I am thinking that toffee sauce would be good just by itself.
I need to go run another mile on my treadmill.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:09 am
What comfort food this is! And congratulations for your 300th post. Looking forward to more!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:16 am
This sounds fabulous! I have never made bread pudding and it is on my list of things to try this year. Oatmeal bread sounds divine!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:42 am
Oatmeal raisin bread pudding could possibly be the best idea ever! This sounds amazing. You are SO inspiring to me with all your baked goods! I’m no baker, but I’m trying and you really make me think! I love it! Congrats on 300!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:18 am
Congratulations on 300 posts!
This creation of yours looks really good. I’ve only had bread pudding once I think and wasn’t a big fan of it but just thinking of oatmeal cookie type bread and custard together - yum.
February 21st, 2008 at 6:22 am
Wow! 300 is a great milestone. I’ve loved reading each and every post and am glad we are blogging friends! Here’s to 300 more.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:30 am
Congratulations on reaching 300. Another beautiful creation. Here is to another 300 more.
February 21st, 2008 at 7:39 am
The oatmeal bread on it’s own sounds like a treat, but what a delicious concoction altogether!
February 21st, 2008 at 7:58 am
Happy 300! Thats a pretty awesome feat.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:15 am
Wow - 300 posts is huge!! Congrats, and I’m glad you are here posting - you are one of my favorite blogs!! I have actually never even made a bread pudding before. But this may have to be the first one I make!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:19 am
Congrats on the 300th! I’ve enjoyed reading about all your adventures and its made me want to do the same
This bread pudding is exactly what I’ve been craving recently. It’s like french toast, but more sinful and BETTER!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:53 am
yum, yum, yum. i love bread pudding! i just did a savory one (one of *my* fav comfort foods), so i’m due for a sweet!
congrats on the 300 - i can’t image getting there, but i hope i do!
– Michelle @ Us vs. Food
February 21st, 2008 at 9:23 am
Congrats on #300, and on the bread pudding, one of my favorite desserts!
February 21st, 2008 at 9:49 am
oh.my.god. i don’t even *like* oatmeal cookies and i’m drooling! i have *got* to try this. amazing. congrats on your 300th post. i for one am very happy i found this blog.
February 21st, 2008 at 10:21 am
I always consider my blog whenever I cook anything at all, too.
Congrats on #300!
February 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am
WOW! 300 posts — congrats!! At this stage of my blogging career, I can’t even imagine! This bread pudding looks amazing. Keep up the awesome work!
February 21st, 2008 at 11:11 am
Peabody! This looks frickin’ awesome. I love love love bread pudding, but for some dumb reason I never make it. I might have to find some time for this one. yum. Right after I finish my DB challenge. Sigh
Great pics also.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:13 am
Three hundred desserts??? Wow — we are so lucky to have you in the food blog universe!
February 21st, 2008 at 11:20 am
Congrats on 300 posts! That’s amazing in and of itself, but the fact that you create all of your recipes specifically for your blog makes it even more of an accomplishment!
February 21st, 2008 at 11:26 am
Love the picture with the spoon in focus and the bread pudding out of focus. Have you ever tried to make bread pudding with Hallah bread? IMHO it makes the best French toast and bread puddings (although I’ve never tried it with oatmeal loaf bread!). Congratulations on 300 posts!
February 21st, 2008 at 11:32 am
See now that’s a bread pudding I could get behind! And where can I find me some of that ice cream?
February 21st, 2008 at 11:37 am
Hey, congratulations on your 300th post! I had bread pudding for the first time ever yesterday… and it didn’t look as good as this, heh. Maybe I’ll try making it for the first time now…
February 21st, 2008 at 11:45 am
Congrats on 300! And woooo does that look good…
February 21st, 2008 at 11:49 am
As a fairly new ‘hooked’ reader of yours, all I can say is, I wish I found your blog earlier.
(I still get a giggle over the refund muffin post.)
Congratulations, 300 and not out, as they would say here.
Doesn’t bread and butter pudding sound like prison food? So simple and simply divine!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Yummy… and Congrats on hitting 300! I’m glad I’m not the only one that feeds the blog before feeding myself!
February 21st, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Congratulations on your 300 mark. This occasion definitely calls for a decadent dessert.
February 21st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Peabody, congratulations on 300 blog posts!!! I hope to see at LEAST 300 more!!! :0)
Oatmeal-Raisin Bread Pudding??? Yes, please!!! :0D
February 21st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
This looks absolutely amazing! Congrats on your 300th post. I’m so glad that you put so much work into this blog. I love reading it!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Congratulations on 300 posts! Wow. And that dessert looks amazing — I can think of a LOT of uses for that toffee sauce!
February 21st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I came on here to comment on TWD - a little late! But, I got stuck here…this looks amazing!
February 21st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Oh yum. Looks so tasty! Congrats on 300!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Perfect recipe for a celebration!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
W O W ! ! !
Oh my gosh, this looks amazing! My mom is a huge bread pudding fan. It looks amazing and it is by far a flop. Great job and congrats on the 300 posts!
February 21st, 2008 at 6:46 pm
wow, you and i must be on the same wave length! i just made bread pudding too! (need to post it soon)
i love bread pudding too! this looks beautiful, love the photos
February 21st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Congratualations on your first 300, may you have many multiple more
Love the foreshortening of the spoon…nicely done.
j
February 21st, 2008 at 7:51 pm
I love that ice cream flavor - it reminds me of this incredible dessert we have at a chain out here. It’s a half baked giant cookie (made in a pizza pan) and topped with vanilla ice cream. I always get the oatmeal cookie.
February 21st, 2008 at 8:35 pm
What a yummy way to celebrate! Happy 300th!
February 21st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Congrats on your 300th post! What a milestone! Your blog was one of the first that I ever came across and I happily lurked for many months. It is a great site and you’ve done a terrific job with it. Here’s to another 300 posts in health and happiness!
February 21st, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Yum! A toast to 300 and another 300 delicious and amazing goodies from Peabody! Your blog is always a happy place for me to swing by. I hope it remains a happy place for you to live. xxoo
February 21st, 2008 at 11:30 pm
This is BEAUTIFUL. Happy 300th post, here’s to 300 more
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:03 am
Congrats on #300! I hope you’ll do many more. I always look forward to what you’re doing:) I’ve got to make this bread pudding…sounds(and looks) divine!
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 am
And we can’t imagine not having your blog either, Pea - such an inspiration! I love how passionate you are.
Toffee sauce?? I’m drooling.
February 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
300 posts - wow think of all that yummy food. i think I would have to bake two loafs - one to make the bread pudding and one to eat while I’m waiting for the bread pudding
Cinnamon is one of my favourite flavours so this loaf/pudding is definetly a must.
February 22nd, 2008 at 7:52 am
Congratulations on your 300th post! Keep up with the great job!
That pudding is AWESOME! I’m drooling now…
Cheers,
Rosa
February 22nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Happy 300th and counting to all of us since we’re the fortunate ones! I love bread pudding, too, but don’t often make it because there are always leftovers. I’ve got to go small, right? Keep ‘em coming Peabody!
February 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
CONGRATULATIONS!
Now I know what I will be making this weekend!
I am a HUGE fan of your croissant bread pudding (and it is often requested by my friends that I make it). Can’t wait to try this version.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:38 am
Congrats on the 300th post. I’ve been a loyal reader since the snickerdoodle muffins, and I love our hockey rants as well. I LOVED the Ben & Jerry’s Oatmeal Cookie Chunk Ice Cream, but we can’t get it in the DC/MD area anymore. I am going to have to try your bread pudding, but I think I’ll make mine with chocolate chunks instead.
February 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
That is the most delicious sounding bread, just for starters…then making it bread pudding…wow. Love the toffee sauce, too. I’ll come have some next time I’m in the neighborhood
Congratulations on your 300th post! I’ve probably read most of them because once I read a few, I went back in the archives and read more…you REALLY should have a book. Such great recipes, so drool worthy, so inventive, and such FUN.
February 27th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Is that really 12 onces of butter?
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I tried this today; Delicious!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
[…] de Leche Gelato from Cooking and Booking, Linzertorte Cobbler from Cooking at the Pacific Outpost, Oatmeal Raisin Bread Pudding from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody, Frosted Cinnamon Apple Bars from Culinary in the Desert, […]