Bread and Butter Pudding

Ingredients

250ml double cream

65 ml milk

50 g castor sugar

3 eggs

3-4 saffron strands

A little butter for greasing

6 slices white bread, buttered and sliced into 4 triangles

50 g ready-to-eat dried papaya, finely chopped (Here papaya has been substituted for the sultanas or raisins. But you could also try dried apricots or even mangoes.)

25 g pistachio nuts, crushed

Method

Preheat the oven to 180º C / 350º F / Gas Mark 4.

Mix the cream with the milk and add the sugar and saffron strands.

Whisk the eggs and add them to the cream mixture.

Butter a deep ovenproof dish 15cm x 22cm / 6in x 9in, put into it a layer of bread, then sprinkle over some papaya/raisins/apricots/mangoes and nuts.

Add another layer of bread then some more nuts and papaya.

Pour the cream mixture over the bread and put the dish into the oven for 30-35 minutes, until the surface is a rich golden brown.

Serve immediately.

Tip: Add a pinch of nutmeg and another of cinnamon to the cream mixture.