Blueberry Bread Puddings with Lemon Curd

Tart lemon curd tops individual bread puddings laced with berries. Fresh blueberries also work well in this recipe. Prepare the lemon curd while the puddings bake.

Puddings:
1 1/4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
4 1/2 cups (1/2-inch) cubed French bread (about 8 ounces)
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries, divided

Lemon Curd:
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons butter

1. To prepare puddings, combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add bread, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Divide half of bread mixture evenly among 8 (6-ounce) ramekins or custard cups coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with 3/4 cup berries. Divide remaining bread mixture among ramekins; top with 3/4 cup berries.

4. Cover each ramekin with foil. Place ramekins in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake, covered, at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes, or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean.

5. To prepare lemon curd, combine 1/3 cup sugar and 1 egg in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring with a whisk. Cook 2 minutes or until sugar dissolves and mixture is light in color, stirring constantly. Stir in lemon juice and butter; cook 2 minutes or until mixture coats the back of a spoon, stirring constantly with a spoon.

6. Place saucepan in a large ice-filled bowl for 5 minutes or until lemon curd cools to room temperature. Serve lemon curd over warm bread puddings. Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 bread pudding and 1 tablespoon lemon curd).

Calories: 240 (20% from fat); Fat 5.2 g (sat 2g, mono 1.8g, poly 0.7g); Protein 7.1g; Carb 41.9g; Fiber 1.7g; Chol 112mg; Iron 1.2mg; Sodium 234mg; Calc 84mg

"Warm Desserts for Cold Nights"
Article by Jean Patterson
Copyright 2002 by Cooking Light.
Originally published in Cooking Light, November 2002.