Cows, Croissants & Family holidays.

We have been enjoying a family holiday together.

Some time away from home spent in one of our very favourite places.

South Gippsland in Victoria is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Verdant green everywhere as far as the eye can see.

Paddocks and paddocks of gorgeous Freesian cows feasting on that lush lush grass to make us the milk we drink.

Beef cows are farmed here too.

This time we are taking home our very own cow as a momento of this fabulous family trip.

Isn't he ace!

 Ferdinand the Bull

There is so much goodness all around this area.

The sea, the wild wild sea.

And the blustery winds that come with being near the edge of the world.

Just so much natural beauty.

Everytime we come down here I am besotted.

Taken back to my happy place.

Looking to great expanse every which way.

Ocean and beauty everywhere.

Dreaming of how we could make a life here......

Where we stay there isn't a shop.

I know that a lot of people don't like that.

Don't like not having the convenience.

Don't like having to drive half an hour to the nearest supermarket.

I love that- I love that you have to make do.

I love that you have to invent things out of what you packed.

I like that idea on holidays anyway- the idea that as the day begins you aren't really sure where it will go, what you will make of it.  Living spontaneously.

Before we left Melbourne we were lucky enough to be given some glorious Croissants from Alison's Handmade bread in Prahran.

Yesterday we bumped into some family friends in a local town.  We had gone there to do a bike ride on a rail trail.

After a chat and a play in the park a dinner date was made.

I came home and was a little worried that I didn't have enough food to cater for 4 adults and EIGHT hungry boys.

But I couldn't just pop down the shop- I had to make do with what I had!

I got the croissants out and made up a recipe for dessert using the croissants from Alison, some gorgeous Daylesford Organics eggs and some of the chocolate that was left over form the Easter eggs.

My idea was to make a Bread & Butter pudding that was kind of inspired by Pain au Chocolat.  There was a lot of chocolate around. It was Easter Sunday!

It was an experiment and I wasn't really sure how it would turn out (especially the custard part as I didn't have a recipe so I had to make it up!) but it was SO very good!

GOURMET GIRLFRIEND'S PAIN AU CHOCOLAT PUDDING:
It isn't very often I have leftover Croissants in my house!  My kids devour them.
BUT....if you ever have leftovers this is a fab thing to make.
Of course you could substitute the Croissants for bread or brioche or Panettone.
It is a great way to use leftovers.  And as Croissants are LOADED with butter there is no need to add extra butter to the recipe.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• 4 croissants
• 100g chocolate
• 5 eggs
• 500g milk
• 150g sugar
• a little butter (for lining the baking tray)
• 3 tblspoons Cherry jam (that was what I had in the cupboard- i would often use a marmalade- but you can choose)

METHOD:
Heat the oven to 180C.


Butter a rectangular baking dish.
Tear the Croissants apart (if using bread slice into 3cm slices & butter them) and place them into the baking dish.  Break the chocolate into pieces and scatter through the croissants.

Crack the eggs and a whisk together with sugar in a large bowl.


In a pan add milk and bring almost to the boil.


Remove from the heat and add half to the eggs and sugar whisking all the time.


Add mix back into the saucepan.


Bring back to a near boil- whisk all the time.


Pour this mix over the croisants and let it set for half an hour.  This ensures it is light and fluffy.

Lightly cover with alfoil.


Now pop into the oven for 15 minutes.


Remove from oven and take off the alfoil. 


The custard will be set. 

Heat Jam in a small container in the microwave.


Use a brush to brush the top of the pudding with the Jam.


Place back in the oven for a further 15minutes.

Remove and serve with ice-cream or cream.


(PS. It was EVEN a hit with the non-dessert eaters in the house!)