Bacon and Cheese Bread Pudding with Bourbon BBQ

Recipe Courtesy of Stephanie Izard

Bread Pudding:

4 c cubed Ciabatta bread
2 egg yolks
3/4 c heavy cream
1/2 c milk 5 slices bacon, crisped and crumbled
2 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. in medium bowl, whisk together yolks, cream and milk. Add in bacon, cheese and bread. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon mixture into greased ramekins. Place ramekins in a baking dish and fill with one inch of water. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 25 more minutes, until lightly browned on top. Let cool slightly and remove from ramekins.

BBQ Sauce:
2 slices bacon
1/2 c onion, small diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c maker mark
1/4 c brown sugar
2 T sherry vinegar
1 t Tabasco
1 t Worcestershire
1 t Dijon
1 small can plum tomatoes Salt and pepper

Heat small sauce pot over medium heat. Add in bacon and sweat until begins to crisp, about 4 minutes. Add in onion and garlic and sweat 3 minutes more. Add in Makers and sugar and reduce by half. Add in the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for 25 minutes. Blend until almost smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

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