What about Thanksgiving?? Make this Pumpkin Bread Pudding!

"Yes'm," answered two meek voices, and after a few irrepressible giggles, silence reigned, broken only by an occasional snore from the boys, or the soft scurry of mice in the buttery, taking their part in this old-fashioned Thanksgiving.

Louisa May Alcott "An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving"

I love that story.

I was up unusually early this morning and decided to pull out my Thanksgiving decorations....really just Turkeys. I love them! I'm looking forward to Saturday to re-decorate a little and put out the Toms. I know it seems early to think about Thanksgiving with Halloween only days away but it will be here before we know it. It seems like we always go straight from Halloween to Christmas and Thanksgiving gets the short end of the stick. I think we should start a campaign "Give Thanks for Thanksgiving!" I found this enjoyable little clip about the history of Thanksgiving with lots of lovely scenes and reenactments....its only a few minutes long http://www.history.com/minisites/thanksgiving/

You will be well loved bringing this dish to Thanksgiving Dinner.

Pumpkin Bread Pudding

Butter, for baking dish

1 baguette, (8 ounces) slice 1/2 inch thick

4 large eggs

1 quart half-and-half

1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square or 2-quart shallow baking dish; set aside. Toast bread on a baking sheet in oven, turning occasionally, until lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven.

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pie spice, vanilla, and salt. Add toasted bread; cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto surface. Place a plate small enough to fit inside bowl on top of plastic; weight with a large canned good. Let soak until bread is saturated, about 25 minutes.

Transfer mixture to prepared dish, spreading evenly. Bake on a baking sheet until firm and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners'; sugar and topped with whipped cream.

Gobble Gobble!