Pear Bread Pudding

Total time: 1 Hour, 10 minutes

• Prep time: 25minutes

• Cooking time: 55minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 3 teaspoons unsalted butter

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 4 eggs

• 5 slices soft whole-wheat bread, each cut in half

• 2 pears, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Yield: serves 4

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375º F.

2. Butter a 9-inch square pan.

3. In a saucepan, heat the milk, sugar, butter, and salt until small bubbles form. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, then add the warm milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly.

4. Layer the square pan with the bread. Top with the pears. Pour the milk-egg mixture into the baking pan and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

5. Bake until golden, about 35 minutes. Top with the Cheddar, if desired, and bake until the cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm.