Old-Fashioned Bread Pudding

Ingredients

* 2 cups milk
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1/3 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 4 slices white bread, without crust
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* dash nutmeg
* 1/2 cup raisins, optional

Preparation

Heat milk over low heat until hot, but not boiling. In a bowl, combine eggs, sugar, and salt; stir well. Gradually stir about 1/4 of the hot milk to the egg mixture and stir in. Add remaining milk, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla.

Place bread slices in a buttered baking dish, (sprinkle raisins over bread, if used), about 2-quart size. Pour the milk mixture over bread. Combine cinnamon and nutmeg; sprinkle over pudding mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 300° for about 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm with vanilla sauce or other dessert sauce, if desired.