Panettone Failure & Other News

This bread pudding isn’t pretty.  I know.  I don’t want to look at it either.  Bread pudding is just ugly, and there’s nothing I can do about that.

It’s cubed panettone mixed with heavy cream, evaporated milk, eggs, eggnog, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar, and topped with fresh cranberries and almonds. 

It was actually pretty good, despite the looks.  I would use the same measurements of the ingredients again.  The eggnog and spices were right on.  The problem was my panettone bread.  I actually used a panettone I baked myself.  It was an experimental recipe… I wanted to create an easier panettone bread, and made it in the bread machine.

It turned out very dense and almost black on the outsides.  So I cubed up the bread and used it in this bread pudding recipe.  That was a mistake, because the bread was way too dry for this, and made the pudding dry.

Oh well… you can’t win them all. 

These cookies, however, are winners. 

They’re Lorie’s Eskimo Crackle Cookie Sandwiches with Coconut-Marshmallow Buttercream.

SO good!  I would make these cookies again and again.  I made my own buttercream recipe up by using butter, confectioners’ sugar, heavy cream, vanilla, and melted down homemade-coconut marshmallows. 

On a side note, Chef’s Catalog.com is sending me a few dishes as promotional items.  I’ll be using them for my food pictures.  I’m sure you all get sick of seeing the same plates all of the time.

In exchange, I’m giving them some link love. 

There are all kinds of culinary related items on Chef’s; cookware, bakeware, serveware, cutlery, kitchen tools, furniture, and food.  I had no idea they had so much! 

I want this Frieling Layer Cake Slicing Kit.  Think of how easy it would be to make multi-layered cakes.  I have such a hard time with that.  I’ve never seen anything like this before.

I also want this Mini Pie Baking Set.  Mini pies are cute as can be!  You could bake a different flavor of pie for every member of your family.

I also love this beautiful Le Creuset 2-Quart Poterie Stoneware Pitcher.  I would pour eggnog from it.



I think I would feel very French if I owned these Egg Serving Cups.  Oh la la.  You can serve poached eggs in these for a fancy breakfast.

You should definitely check out their website if you love to cook or bake.  They have just about everything you could possibly need.

Well, that’s all for today.  I’ll be back soon with some cookie recipes!

I leave you with some pictures of The Graduate.




I’m such a dork.