Banana bread pudding

Pudding:
4 cups cubed day-old french bread or sourdough bread (1 inch pieces)
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sliced bananas

Sauce:
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Place bread cubes in greased casserole dish. Pour butter over cubes and toss.
In a medium bowl, lightly beat eggs; add milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Stir in bananas. Pour over bread cubes and stir to coat.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Meanwhile, for sauce, melt butter in small saucepan. Combine sugar and cornstarch; add to butter. Stir in milk and maple syrup. Cook and stir over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir one minute. Remove from heat; stir in the vanilla.

Serve warm sauce over warm pudding. Makes 6 servings.

Optional: add chocolate chips and/or walnuts. Good with ice cream too!

Makes good use of leftover bread and bananas and is a good alternative to banana bread. :)