CARAMELIZED CUSTARD BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Cover raisins with water and orange juice. Soak while preparing other ingredients, or cover and refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• In a saucepan, heat milk, half and half, and butter but do not allow to boil. Cool slightly.
• Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Reserve 2 tablespoons of brown sugar mixture for sprinkling on top later.
• In a separate saucepan, add the remaining brown sugar mixture, vanilla, and eggs. Whisk until smooth.
• Pour heated milk mixture into sugar mixture. Add baking powder and whisk until smooth.
• Place 1/2 of bread cubes in a 2-quart casserole dish.
• Thoroughly drain raisins and discard soaking liquid. Spread 1/2 cup raisins over the bread.
• Top with rest of bread cubes. Sprinkle remaining raisins on top.
• Pour the milk mixture over the bread until the bread is saturated. Let stand for 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle reserved 2 tablespoons of sugar mixture over top.
• Place bread pudding dish in a larger pan. Carefully, add very hot water to larger pan to within 1/2 inch of tops of casserole dish. Bake at 350F degrees for 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes or until knife comes out clean when inserted 1 inch from rim.
• Serve warm or cold.