Orange & Honey Bread Pudding

        1    stick (4 ounces) unsalted
             butter
       30 sl French bread, between 1/8
             and 1/4-inch thick,
    1 1/2    inches in diameter, - about
        3    to 4 ounces
        2 c  milk
        1 c  heavy cream
      2/3 c  honey, - preferably orange
             blossom
        3    California navel oranges
        5 lg eggs

Note: The oranges can be peeled and sliced after using their zest to flavor the pudding. Sprinkle them with a little sugar and orange liqueur and serve them along with the pudding. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Melt the butter and cool it slightly. Dip one side of each slice of bread into the butter and arrange the bread, buttered side up and slightly overlapping in a shallow 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Combine the milk, cream and honey in a saucepan. Strip the zest from the oranges with a vegetable peeler and add to the pan. Be careful not to include any of the white pith under the zest or the pith might contribute a bitter flavor. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, remove from heat and allow to stand about 5 minutes for the zests to steep and flavor the mixture. Whisk the eggs until liquid in a large mixing bowl, then whisk in the hot milk and cream mixture. Do not overbeat or the custard will have a great deal of foam on the surface. Strain the custard back into the pan and skim the foam from the surface with a large spoon. Pour the custard over the bread in the dish, pouring so that the bread is evenly soaked and rises to the surface. Place the baking dish in another larger pan and pour warm water into the pan to come halfway up the side of the baking dish. Bake the bread pudding for about 45 minutes, until the custard is set and the bread is an even golden color.


Yield: 4 Servings