Budino al Cioccolato & Budino di Pane

BUDINO AL CIOCCOLATO
Cocoa Pudding

8 3/4 oz. slices of Panettone
5 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup bitter cocoa
1/3 cup flour
Pinch salt
2 1/3 cups milk
1/2 cup orange liqueur

Cut the Panettone in small cubes.

Put the butter in a small pan and melt it over low heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar, cocoa and flour. Blend in 2 tbsp. cold milk, beating constantly to obtain a smooth cream without lumps. Mix in the remaining milk, place the pan over low heat and add salt. Stir constantly as the cream thickens. Let the mixture boil a minute or two, then remove it from the heat.

Pour the mixture into a large bowl, mix in the Panettone cubes and sprinkle with the orange liqueur. Put the bowl in a larger container filled with ice cubes. As the pudding cools, stir occasionally. Divide the pudding among 6 dessert cups and refrigerate them for at least one hour before serving.

Serves 6

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BUDINO DI PANE
Italian Bread Pudding

2/3 cup light raisins
6-8 slices Panettone, Colomba or Pandoro (about 8 oz.)
2 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar
I cup heavy cream
1/4 cup rum
1/4 cup Marsa1a
3 large eggs
2 tbsp. grated orange peel
1/2 tsp. ground cinnanmon
Confectioner's sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 12 x 9 x 24 inch baking dish. Sprinkle half the raisins in the bottom of the dish. Make a layer of half the cake slices over the raisins. Sprinkle with the remaining raisins and top with the rest of the cake. Combine the milk and sugar in a medium saucepan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the cream, rum and Marsala. Beat the eggs, orange peel and cinnamon and stir into the milk mixture.

Slowly pour the liquid over the cake slices, pressing them down. Let stand 10 minutes. Place the dish in a large roasting pan and fill it to a depth of one inch. Bake 30 minutes or until a knife inserted 2 inches from the edge comes clean and the top is golden. Just before serving, sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Serve warm or chilled.

Recipe by Michele Scicolone