For those of you who landed here in the hope of finding a recipe for bread pudding with bourbon sauce, let not your heart be troubled. For indeed, there is one.
And since I know how irritating it is to have to scroll through an entire blog post when all you want is the freakin’ recipe–seriously, do we need a picture for every time they crack an egg?–I made you a jump link straight to it: Click to jump to recipe
(Gosh, it’s been so long since I did a jump link, sure hope I did it right. If not, I wonder where they all went to?)
Oh well. On my nativity set. Here’s a picture of it:
The set is from the Willow Creek collection and is ridiculously popular, but for the record, I bought it when it first came out. Before it was popular. Just so you know.
It’s the first nativity set I ever bought and the only reason I did so is that Mary is holding the baby.
Most sets have her praying, like she wishes he’d go to sleep already…
Other times she looks surprised there’s a baby at all, which I guess is reasonable given the circumstances…
Once I saw a set where Mary was holding up a cloth. I told Husband, “Look! She’s got a diaper!” He thought it was the swaddling cloth. Sadly, I never saw the set again.
Anyway, the reason I’m musing on nativity sets, other than it being Christmas and all, is that it recently came to my attention it was St. Francis who came up with the idea.
(For those of you who follow this blog and don’t just come here hoping to snag a recipe, you’ll know I recently started working at a Franciscan convent. Hence, my recently acquired knowledge of nativity sets.)
It was St Francis who created the first living nativity. He set it up in a cave in central Italy and it was so popular that for several years after it was reenacted throughout Italy. Eventually they created small replicas for people to keep in their homes.
His intent, St. Francis’ that is, was to have a scene where people could reflect on the event; no one cared if it was historically accurate or not.
Even so, for a lot of us, it became gospel truth. The stable, the wooden manger filled with straw, the shepherds and wise men jockeying for space, the stingy innkeeper, the whole shtick.
Several years ago I saw a video of a theologian talking about the nativity story. It was quite entertaining, mostly because he talked with so much enthusiasm.
According to this theologian — his name was Dr. Bailey — it’s far more likely Jesus was born in a home, not a stable. The homes of that time and region consisted of one big room, a portion of which was lower and that’s where the animals were kept at night. Mainly to protect them from thieves, but also because they added warmth to the house.
As for the manger, it was probably a concave spot cut into the main floor for feeding the animals on the lower level. When the angels told the shepherds, “You will find the babe wrapped in bands of cloth, lying in a manger,” they would have pictured a home just like one they grew up in. The message was clear: “He’s one of us!”
There’s a lot more Dr. Bailey said, including specifics as to why they’d be in a house. If you’d like to read an article he wrote, you can do so here.
What I love about this rendition is that it becomes a tale of hospitality and family. A new baby lain not on scratchy straw but in a cozy nook, a young couple assisted by relatives they probably never met before, the nervous new mother comforted by wise and knowing women. And however poor the family, they would have shared their food as well.
It could be that this is where our present day Christmas gets it right. Families and friends getting together, sharing food and conversation, a extra room if needed.
And here’s where we segue into the bread pudding with bourbon sauce, because if you’re going to be hospitable toward your family, a little bourbon can’t hurt.
And if my jump-link worked, we’re now joined with our recipe hunters too.
Oh, hey there! Nice to see you again!
Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
This is a tasty, grown-up version of bread pudding, with cranberries because I’m not fond of raisins. But feel free to use whatever dried fruit you’d like. Also, if you’d rather not have bourbon in it, use apple cider instead.
Ingredients:
- 4 or 5 cups dry bread cubes
- 2 cups half-n-half (can use milk or almond milk instead)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, soaked a couple hours in 1/2 cup bourbon or apple cider
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
Bourbon Sauce:
- 4 Tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup bourbon whiskey (reserved from soaking fruit)
First off, put the dried cranberries (or dried fruit of choice) in a bowl and soak in bourbon (or liquid of choice). Let soak for a good 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour half-n-half (or milk) in a mixing bowl and add the bread cubes. Stir gently until all the liquid is absorbed. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and spices. Strain the dried cranberries, reserving 1/4 cup liquid for the sauce. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes and add the cranberries, stir gently until combined.
Grease an 8×8-inch pan with the melted butter. Pour the bread and egg mixture into the baking pan; bake at 350°F for 35 minutes or until the liquid has set.
To make bourbon sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat; stir in sugar and egg and whisk until smooth. Slowly cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens a little. Remove from heat and stir in bourbon. (Note: the alcohol does not cook out.)
Pour the bourbon sauce over the bread pudding to serve. Enjoy!
Feeding on Folly 
Nice post. Love your nativity set too. Merry Christmas!
Thanks, Rhonda! Merry Christmas!
I’ll have to try this. I’ve loved bread pudding. I don’t have any bourbon on hand. I wonder if rum would work? (I may have to run get some liquor for upcoming taste testing.) Have a very delicious Christmas.
Oh, I bet rum would work quite well. The only reason I have bourbon is that I tried a bourbon glazed chicken recipe a while back that sadly was a bust.
Hope you have a tasty Christmas as well. 🙂
Never thought about how Mary is portrayed in the Nativity sets, really like in yours that she’s holding him. Haven’t seen that before. Mine is a “surprised there is a baby ” version, think that is how I will see it from now on and it will make me smile! 😀 Merry Christmas!!
Oh, I hope it does make you smile — I’d hate to think I ruined it for you! Truthfully, I smile whenever I see a surprised Mary too. 🙂
Merry Christmas!
That is a lovely nativity set. I don’t own a set myself, probably because I don’t really have a surface to display one … decoration goals … Merry Christmas 🙂
The main reason I bought this one is that it looks a lot like a set in a book I used to read to my kids. It’s called “The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey.” The surface to display it on came later! 😀
Your Nativity is very cool. I like Mary holding Jesus. (And no Little Drummer Boy.) Merry Christmas, buddy, to you and all of yours.
There was a drummer boy, but the wise men complained, Joseph banished him and the ox broke his sticks. Ever since he’s been living in a cave south of Phoenix.
Merry Christmas WD!
And there were in that same country coyotes howling at the cave and saying, “Behold! Lunch!”
And suddenly there was with the coyotes a multitude of ringtailed hawks saying, “take it easy, boys; leave some for us!”
It is clear you will have a joyful Christmas and it is clear you make sure your readers will too. Thank you! Merry Christmas.
I dearly hope they do, and you as well, Merry Christmas!
My only nativity set is a small one made of some sort of baked clay. It was made by a child and is a nice simple interpretation of the event!
Sounds lovely! Children usually do it best. 🙂
I liked the information about the advent of nativity sets. I’ve had mine for years and years, and it still gets a prime spot for display.
Wasn’t that interesting? I had no idea it started with St. Francis, but sure enough it did.
I like hearing people talk about their nativity sets. More than any other decorations, they tend to come with the best stories. 🎀
Fun AND informative! How cool, for example, to have the very recipe Joseph and Mary used to make bread pudding. Merry Christmas, CJ!
With authentic Judean bourbon sauce.
Okay, truthfully, I think they used Manischewitz. Please don’t let on I told you.
Yeah, I scoured archaeological records for that one, such is my dedication to my readers. 😉
And deeply appreciated.
This is definitely of your better Entirely Christi posts. History, links, recipe, who could ask for anything more? Merry Christmas and happy new year, my friend.
Aw, thanks Roo! Merry Christmas!
May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas season!
Thanks, Sue! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas as well!
I’ve been reading one of Dr. Bailey’s books – he’s an interesting writer with a lot of good insights.
Ah, someone who’s heard of the man! Sadly he passed away a couple years ago, but he left a plethora of books and interesting articles behind. He was a brilliant man.
Actually I’m currently leading a men’s study group using his “Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes” book. Interesting read.
Oh, that’s a great book! I’m sure it makes for an great study too. Good for you!
Lovely post, as usual, and of course I had to run check out the nativity accessories I use with my Christmas Village. (Said accessories did not make it into this year’s version, what with the limited run, but I knew where in the vast attic they were located, so it was an easy check. I have a “surprised” Mary, if I had to guess, but I think some of that surprise is based on the fact that her birthing garments are off-the-rack and not couture.)
But this raisin thing? I’m deeply troubled that you do not care for them. Granted, cranberries in a bread pudding actually sounds delicious and perky, but still, how can you forsake the goodness of raisins?
I need some alone time…
🙂
I could have sworn I replied to this comment. I did in my mind, did you catch it? It was filled with appreciation for your comment, applause for your running forth to find surprised Mary, and remorse for not stating more clearly my on-again off-again affection for the lowly raisin, as it is only in the manner of its serving that causes me angst, forsooth: baked into a cinnamon-raisin bread? Yum! Plump and juicy in a bread pudding and resembling the bloated tick my older brother claimed it was when I was but five years old and believed everything older brother said? No.
And now I must ask that in your alone time, consider in what ways you as an older brother may have caused your innocent siblings food-related horrors. It’s not too late to make amends. 😉
In my solitude, I am now humbly and deservedly chastened, as it only took me 7 seconds to think of 5 instances wherein I could be accused of malfeasance when it comes to the truthiness of food-lore I share with my younger siblings. (Nice spin with your defense, there. Kudos.)
Am on the lookout for a nativity set recently. Didnt pick one yet. Love yours. Great mention about Mary holding the baby.
I was obsessed with nativity sets when I was younger. My mom told me they weren’t historically accurate as a child too, but I remember the bit about animals keep people warm, so whenever we’d set up the nativity set I’d place the cow and donkey by baby Jesus cause I figured they’d want to keep him warm.
Oh my gosh, that’s sweet!
Your Mom knew her history, didn’t she? Most people are clueless. I think some are surprised to hear there’s no drummer boy in the stable!