Mushroom & Butternut Squash Bread Pudding...

I love autumn... the leaves, the cool breezes, the colors and being able to build a warm fire. And for some odd reason, it almost always puts me in a cooking mood... and when I see those very "harvest" scrumptious recipes when Sunset magazine arrives, I always rip them out with the intention of making one or two. And then I do... and remember why I only end up making one and then usually quit for the season. :-)

Those recipes are always DELICIOUS, but they take half the day to make! And I don't know about most of you, but it's hard to come up with that kind of time! But this weekend, I did it. I had torn out a really yummy looking recipe and have been staring at the ripped out page for awhile now: Mushroom & Butternut Squash Bread Pudding.  So yesterday, I actually purchased the ingredients and was all ready to go...  Then I read the prep time (should have done this earlier!) and got overwhelmed – I almost called it quits, but then Joe gave me a pep talk, said he would watch the kids and said “just do it!” I had to cut and prep in “stages” and was exhausted by the time I finally finished it...

But, it turned out to be REALLY GOOD, so at least there was some satisfaction at the dinner table!  I purchased the ingredients to also make a Cranberry Frangipane Crostata, however… I am now thinking I might just make cranberry bread instead!  :-)

I took pictures of my cooking adventure...  It might not happen again for quite some time!  :-)

And it had to be enjoyed with a VERY NICE Bogle Reserve Zinfandel (a very dear friend's family wine company...)  Love the wine choice for this month's shipment!