Lucious Cherry-Chocolate Bread Pudding

I made a Bread Pudding with leftover bread, french and sandwich I had laying around. I take this to work because my family really doesn't care for bread pudding. I remembered seeing a recipe somewhere but almost couldn't place it. After looking through several cookbooks, I suddenly remembered it was on the Lucky Leaf Dark Sweet Cherry Pie Filling can. It is wonderful!!!

Lucious Cherry-Chocolate Bread Pudding

6 c. bread cubes (3/4 inch), toasted at 350 degrees for 15 minutes
3 c. half & half
1/4 cup sugar
1 pkg. (12 oz.) white chocolate chips
4 eggs, beaten
1 can (21 oz.) Lucky Leaf Dark Sweet Cherry Pie Filling

In saucepan, heat half and half and sugar until boiling. Remove from heat, stir in chips until melted. Gradually whisk into eggs. Place bread cubes in 2-quart baking dish coated with non-stick cooking spray. Top with custard mixture. Let stand 10 minutes for bread to absorb custard. Drop pie filling over top. Swirl. Some cherries should be visible on bottom of casserole. Bake at 325 degrees for 40 minutes until puffed and golden. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar. Servings: 8

Traditional Pasta Sauce

1 can (28 oz.) Central Market Organics San Marzano Tomatoes
3 Tbsp. Central Market Organics Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 tsp. chopped garlic
2 tsp. basil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat oil in large sauce pan along with the garlic, over medium heat. Once the garlic is golden in color add the tomatoes, basil, and season. Using a spoon, mix all the ingredients while breaking up the tomatoes. Cooking time 10-15 minutes. Makes sauce for 1 lb. of pasta.

Chicken Stroganoff

5 boneless chicken thighs, diced (or use 3 breasts if you like or mix)
1 TBSP canola oil
3 cups chicken gravy mix (I like Pioneer or McCormicks)
1 medium or large potato, peeled and diced (or don’t peel)
2-3 carrots, diced
1 TBSP flour
1 cup milk
Cavendar’s Greek seasoning (use about 2 tsps)

Heat canola oil in large deep saucepan over medium high heat. Add diced chicken thighs and season with Cavendar’s. Stir the chicken every couple of minutes. Meanwhile, dice the potato and carrots and add to the chicken. Stir fry the veggies and chicken another 5-10 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked and the veggies start to soften. Sprinkle flour over the chicken and vegetables, stir and cook another minute. Slowly pour in the milk while you are stirring the mix. Prepare the chicken gravy mix according to the package directions. Stir this into the pot, raise the temperature, and bring the whole thing to a boil, stirring pretty often. As soon as it starts to boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer about 5 minutes until the gravy is thick. Serve over rice.