Italian Bread Pudding - serves 4

1 tbsp butter
2 small eating apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into rings
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp white wine
3 1/2 ounces bread, sliced with crusts removed
1 1/4 cups light cream
2 eggs, beaten
Pared rind of 1 orange, cut into matchsticks

Lightly grease a 2-pint, deep ovenproof dish with the butter.
Arrange the apple rings in the base of the dish. Sprinkle half the sugar over the apples.
Pour the wine over the apple slices, add the slices of bread, pushing them down with your hands to flatten them slightly.
Mix the cream with the eggs, the remaining sugar, and the orange rind, and pour the mixture over the bread. Set aside to soak for 30 minutes.
Bake the pudding in a preheated oven at 350 F for 25 minutes, until golden and set. Serve warm.
Variation: Try adding dried fruit, such as apricots, cherries, or dates, to the pudding.