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Sweet Potato, Bagel and Blue Cheese Bread Pudding | The Recipe ReDux

Sweet Potato, Bagel and Blue Cheese Bread Pudding | The Recipe ReDux

Sweet Potato Bagel Blue Cheese Bread Pudding3

All my favorite comfort foods in one cozy casserole ~ 

Disclosure: California Milk Advisory Board compensated The Recipe ReDux (co-owned by ReganMillerJones, Inc. and Teaspoon Communications), to sponsor this recipe contest. We are not eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

So my kindergartener told this joke.

Kid: “Mommy, what’s your favorite color?” Me: “Orange”

Kid: “What’s your favorite animal?” Me: “Peacock”

Kid: “What’s your favorite food?” Me: “Sweet potatoes, bagels, blue cheese, eggs, fennel, butter, chocolate, pickled beets…”

Kid: “Mommy! Just one food…you’re ruining up my joke! Now listen! Have you ever seen an orange peacock eating sweet potatoes, bagels, ummm….cheese, chocolate, what else did you say?”

Sweet Potato Bagel Blue Cheese Bread Pudding2

Now….how often can you combine ALL your favorite foods into one dish?

Solution: Bread Pudding or Egg Casserole or Strata. Whatever you want to call it, it’s delicious. And so forgiving. (And really great for cleaning out the fridge.)

So, after buying one of my favorite foods on the planet: Point Reyes Blue Cheese from California, I decided one favorite food deserved another and picked up some fennel. At home, I had sweet potatoes, and in the freezer, some hearty whole wheatberry bagels from a bakery in Montana that my parents bring when they visit. We always have eggs on hand so this dish – which I’m also calling “All-Mom’s-Favorite-Foods-Bread-Pudding” – just came together.

And it was so, so good.

Sweet Potato Bagel Blue Cheese Bread Pudding1

It’s not too surprising that something mixed up with one of the hundreds of real California Dairy foods is delicious. When the California Milk Advisory Board approached The Recipe ReDux to do a National Nutrition Month recipe challenge to lighten up recipes with real California dairy foods, I knew whatever I made would turn out to be a new favorite food (and ruin my kindergartener’s joke further!) Now even though several of these dairy foods are full-fat cheeses, like this blue cheese, they can still be used in a ‘light’ recipe – because a boldly-flavored little (4 ounces here) goes a long way!

So, here’s a dietitian trick to lighten any dish:
Use smaller amounts of full-fat, boldly flavored cheeses – like blue cheese, aged hard cheese, and herb-flavored cheeses – and sprinkle them on top (instead of mixing into a dish) so the bold flavors rock your taste buds immediately.

Print
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Sweet Potato, Bagel & Blue Cheese Bread Pudding


  • Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 small fennel bulb, sliced in 1/4-inch strips, fennel fronds reserved
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ¾ cup California milk
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh reserved fennel fronds
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 whole grain bagels sliced vertically into round ‘chips’, toasted
  • 4 ounces California blue cheese, crumbled

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Spray 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. Spread sweet potatoes and fennel on large roasting tray; drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Roast about 25 minutes or until sweet potatoes are tender and fennel is tender crisp and golden. Cool slightly. Lower oven temperature to 375°.
  3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, fennel fronds, salt and pepper. Add bagel ‘chips’ and press with a spatula to submerge; set aside for at least 10 minutes for bagels to soak up egg mixture. Add slightly cooled roasted vegetables and toss.
  4. Pour mixture into casserole dish. Sprinkle blue cheese on top. Bake at 375° (uncovered) for about 40-45 minutes until center is set.

Real California Milk and dairy products are sold nationwide and can be identified with the Real California Milk or Real California Cheese seals on packaging. Check out all of the Recipe ReDux real California dairy creations below …we bet you will find a few of your favorite foods. Did you? We want to hear!

Joanne

Thursday 13th of March 2014

I love that you actually put all your favorites in here! Sounds like they make for a pretty perfect bite!

Serena

Thursday 13th of March 2014

Thanks Joanne. Off to check out your Kung Pao Chickpea Tacos...sound like my NEW favorite!

Julia

Wednesday 12th of March 2014

Looks DELICIOUS! Love your blog=)

Mireya @myhealthyeatinghabits

Wednesday 12th of March 2014

I can't wait to try this! I love bread puddings but I hate the fact that it's so much bread. I love the fennel in it, too.

Bridget

Wednesday 12th of March 2014

This is super creative!! Great use of ingredients, never would've thought to throw bagels in. I dig it :)

Wendy Jo

Tuesday 11th of March 2014

You're speaking my language with this! We LOVE savory bread puddings!!! Yum!

Serena

Tuesday 11th of March 2014

Bet you have created some yummy combos, Wendy Jo! Share if you get a chance!

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