Butternut Squash Bread Pudding

It's recipe time again!
I found this one on one of my favorite recipe websites - Epicurious.com. The recipe was featured in Bon Appetit - November 2009 issue, and is by Jill Silverman Hough.

This is a great recipe to bring to a fall potluck - or as a different & filling side dish for Thanksgiving! (not that you need things that fill you up MORE on Thanksgiving!) I made it for our Halloween party, and it turned out pretty well. However, if you aren't a big fan of Kale (which I realized I am not!), then definitely substitute something else such as spinach. I will definitely make it that way the next time because the Kale was icky to me.

OH - and do NOT use vegan butter to grease the dish! Everything stuck to the sides, and was hell to get off - it was as though I hadn't greased the dish at all.

Without further ado - here is the recipe!

Butternut Squash & Cheddar Bread Pudding

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds peeled seeded butternut squash, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
7 large eggs
2 1/4 cups half and half
6 tablespoons dry white wine
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 day-old baguette (do not remove crust), torn into 1-inch pieces (about 10 cups)
1 cup chopped shallots (about 4 large)
2 bunches Tuscan kale (about 1 pound), ribs removed, kale coarsely chopped - OR spinach (which is what I would prefer!)
8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, coarsely grated

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss squash with 1 tablespoon oil on rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt; bake until squash is tender, turning with spatula occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes.

Whisk eggs in large bowl. Add half and half, wine, mustard, and 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt; whisk to blend. Add baguette pieces; fold gently into egg mixture. Let soak 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until soft, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Add kale; cover and cook 2 minutes. Uncover and stir until kale is wilted but still bright green, about 5 minutes (kale will be a bit crunchy).

Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.

Generously butter 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Using slotted spoon, transfer half of bread from egg mixture to prepared baking dish, arranging to cover most of dish. Spoon half of kale over bread. Spoon half of squash over bread and kale; sprinkle with half of cheese. Repeat with remaining bread, kale, squash, and cheese. Pour remaining egg mixture over bread pudding.

Cover bread pudding with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; bake uncovered until custard is set and bread feels springy to touch, about 20 minutes longer.

Preheat broiler; broil pudding until cheese browns slightly, about 2 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and serve.