Bread pudding

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Spread the bread evenly with buttery spread. Split the vanilla pod and place in a saucepan with the milk and bring to the boil. While it is heating, whisk together the egg yolks and caster sugar in a bowl. Allow the milk mix to cool a little, and then strain it on to the egg yolks, stirring all the time. You now have the custard.
2. Cut the bread into triangular quarters or halves, and arrange in the dish in three layers, sprinkling the fruit and a little grating of nutmeg between the two layers and leaving the top clear. Now pour over the warm custard, lightly pressing the bread to help it soak in, and leave it to stand for at least 20-30 mins before cooking to ensure that the bread absorbs all the custard.
3. The buttery spread pudding can be prepared to this stage several hours in advance and cooked when needed. Place the dish in a roasting tray three-quarters filled with warm water and bake for 20-30 mins until the pudding begins to set. Don't overcook it or the custard will scramble. Remove the pudding from the water bath, sprinkle it liberally with caster sugar and glaze under the grill on a medium heat or with a gas gun to a crunchy golden finish.
4. When glazing, the sugar dissolves and caramelises, and you may find that the corners of the bread begin to burn. This helps the flavour, giving a bittersweet taste that mellows when it is eaten with the rich custard, which seeps out of the wonderful bread sponge when you cut into it. And if you'd like to be more extravagant, replace half the milk with whipping or double cream.