Hot Dog Bun Bread Pudding With Bonus Recipes!

Two bits of necessary background:

Bit #1: We went out to dinner last week with friends during Ann Arbor's restaurant week, and one of the dessert options was bread pudding. And it reminded me of years ago, when my brother and I had a tradition of making desserts whenever we got together - and we made a chocolate chip bread pudding, only to find out that we were the only ones in the family who liked bread pudding.

Bit #2: When the kids were small, I was making spaghetti or something similar for supper and realized I had no garlic bread, and nothing to make garlic bread with...except leftover hot dog buns. Thus was born a family tradition of Hot Dog Bun Garlic Bread. Husband and kids still LOVE this and specifically request it. Son #2 is actually disappointed if I make garlic bread using actual Italian bread or a baguette. Personally, I think it is too sweet, but clearly I lack garlic bread expertise.

So, as a result of Bit #1, I had a craving for bread pudding. And like Bit #2, I had no appropriate bread but I did have a sack of hot dog buns in the freezer. So here is the recipe, and you need to know that I had this bread pudding for breakfast AND dessert today...so. damn. yummy.

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

4 eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1/2 cup sugar
2 TBS vanilla
5 cups bread cubes
(in this case, about 4 hot dog buns and 4 leftover Pillsbury crescent rolls that had been in the fridge for days)
1/2 cup chocolate chips (maybe a little more. Let's just call it "to taste" shall we?)

Mix eggs, half-and-half, sugar and vanilla in large bowl. Add bread cubes and mix well. Let sit for 5 minutes, then add chocolate chips. Spray 8x8 baking dish and transfer mixture to dish.

Line roasting pan with old kitchen towel and add warm water until towel is covered. Place baking dish in pan. Water should be 1/3 to 1/2 up sides of dish.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until pudding is set. Best served warm and with whipped cream!

And we have Bonus Materials! Read on.

Hot Dog Bun Garlic Bread

Split buns and spread butter or margarine on each piece. Sprinkle with garlic powder and garlic salt. Bake at 350 for...5-10 minutes?

Hot Dog Bun Veggie Casserole

2 cups hot dog buns, cubed
1/4 butter, melted
1 cup onion, sliced
2 cups zucchini, sliced
1 cup broccoli, chopped
1 tsp garlic salt
1 egg, beaten
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

In large bowl, mix bread cubes and butter. Add veggies, garlic salt, egg and mix well. Add 1 cup of cheese and mix. Transfer to sprayed 9x13 baking dish and top with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes, uncover and bake another 30 minutes.