Eggs Benedict Bread Pudding
Gourmet Magazine, December 1997



6 English muffins
3 cups- 1" broccoli florets (from about 1 head)
6 oz Canadian bacon, coarsely chopped
1 tsp vegetable oil
4 hard boiled eggs
1 cup coarsely grated Jarlsberg cheese, about 4 oz
2/3 cup chicken broth
3 uncooked large eggs
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 tbs butter, softened

Split muffins. In a large baking pan, dry muffin halves,
uncovered at room temperature 12 hours.
(Alternatively, dry muffin halves in a 250° oven 1 hour.)
Butter a 13x9 inch baking dish.
In a large saucepan of boiling salted water cook broccoli until crisp-tender,
about 3 minutes, and drain in a colander.
Refresh broccoli under cold running water and drain well.
In a heavy skillet cook coarsely chopped Canadian bacon
in 1 tsp oil over moderate heat, stirring, 3 minutes.
Drain bacon well on paper towels. Chop hard boiled eggs.
Arrange muffin bottoms, split sides up, in one layer in baking dish
and sprinkle evenly with hard boiled eggs, bacon, broccoli, Jarlsberg,
saucepan bring broth to a boil.

In a boil whisk together 2 uncooked eggs and lemon juice.
Whisk half of broth in a stream into egg mixture
and whisk mixture into broth remaining in the pan.
Cook mixture over moderately low heat, stirring until thickened
(do not boil). In a bowl, whisk together remaining uncooked egg,
cream, milk, and salt and pepper to taste
and whisk in lemon mixture in stream until combined well.
Pour custard slowly and evenly over muffins in baking dish.
Butter muffin tops and quarter them.
Arrange muffin pieces on top of custard, buttered sides up.
Chill pudding, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 12.

(If chilling pudding 12 hours, bottom muffin layer will develop a custardlike consistancy.)
Preheat oven to 350°.
Bake pudding in middle of oven until custard is set,
about 30 minutes. Serves 6 as a main course.