as for bread pudding, this was my restaurant recipe
One loaf of French bread, or about 8 hoagie rolls, torn into pieces
One quart whole milk
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tbls vanilla
3 tbls butter
One half cup raisins, or more if you like
Walnuts if you like
Melt butter in pan. Put bread into butter, pour on the milk, mix and let the bread absorb the milk.
Mix other ingredients in a separate container. add to bread and milk.
Mix well; bake at 375 for about an hour.
Whiskey sauce
Melt one stick of butter and one cup of sugar together. Mix well; rapidly whisk in one beaten egg. Add 2 tbls (or 3) bourbon. Stir and reduce until it is smooth and not grainy.
Cool, and spoon over bread pudding