In learning what it means to be “mother,” I’m learning what it means to take pleasure in the most simple, most quiet moments. Like when I put Lucy on our bed and watch her lips form into a perfect circle. She sticks her tongue out, retracts it, and then smiles at me. No one is watching, and to most in our entertainment drenched society, such actions might be easily ignorable. And yet as a mother, a new mother, these small moments fill my body with an unmatched joy.
Everything takes longer now. Cooking dinner. Getting dressed. Reading a book. Writing a blog post. And so I’ve slowed down. And so I’m seeing these small moments much easier now.
Lately, we’ve sat on the porch in late evening. The ground is soaked from a storm still lingering on the horizon. Our dry Colorado air is finally thick with moisture and the three of us breathe it–Ryan and I deeply because we know how quickly it will pass. I am not exactly sure what we are looking for as we sit on our cracked concrete porch, but we find it. I can see it in the way our faces relax. The tension from a long day of crying and nursing and changing diapers dissipates.
I made this banana bread pudding on a rainy Saturday afternoon. As it stormed outside, Ryan held Lucy in his arms, and I cut up day-old French bread in our kitchen. I soaked cherries in rum, and I sliced bananas with my favorite paring knife. One thing every kitchen needs: a good paring knife. And I felt thankful for an hour to myself. I felt thankful that my daughter was in the room next to me. I felt thankful for day-old bread and ripe bananas. And when I pulled this from the oven a little later…we were all thankful for good recipes and Saturday evening desserts.
Banana, Cherry, and Roasted Cinnamon Bread Pudding
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 tablespoon rum
1 cup sugar
4 teaspoons McCormick® Gourmet Collection Roasted Saigon Cinnamon
4 eggs
3 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups milk
7 cups challah, French or Italian bread cubes
2 ripe bananas, sliced
1 cup heavy cream
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix cherries and rum in small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the sugar mixture.
Mix eggs, remaining sugar mixture, 2 teaspoons of the vanilla and salt in large bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Stir in milk until well blended. Add bread cubes and bananas; toss to coat well. Pour into greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle cherries evenly over top. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the reserved sugar mixture.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly on wire rack. Meanwhile, beat cream, remaining 1/4 cup sugar mixture and 1 teaspoon vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer just until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve warm bread pudding with whipped cream.
Monet, she is beautiful!! After so much hardship, you are blessed. Banana bread is one of the simple pleasures in life, and a banana bread pudding sounds that much better. Have a great week with your sweet little one.
I’m so glad you stopped by my blog today. 🙂 This post made me teary – so beautiful and real. I love your cracked concrete porch and the acknowledgement that as much as you adore your daughter, she wears you right out sometimes. That’s real life. Good and hard, beautiful and tearful. It’s lovely to meet you. 🙂
I love the sweet moments when they are tiny! My baby is now 8 years old, time flies! Take in every moment you can.
Beautiful post, beautiful recipe, beautiful, gorgeous photos!
You are doing great, but I knew you would ;-0)
Lucy is perfect, what a doll! And I’m sure you are a wonderful mom! Your dessert looks pretty good too and I wish I had a helping of it now.
You just have such a way with words, Monet. It’s like poetry. I can practically see and feel everything. And I’m always excited for a pic of sweet little Lucy 🙂
This post has it all, Monet – a new photo of your beautiful Lucy (she changes so quickly!) AND an incredible bread pudding recipe. My heart skipped a happy beat when I realized that I have all the ingredients at home. Only a few hours stand between me and banana cherry roasted cinnamon bread pudding heaven!
Monet,
It amazes me that you are able to bake and blog, as often as you do, especially with a newborn babe. Lucy has grown a lot in 6 wks., and gets cuter each day. You are doing a great job, and are a wonderful Mother.
My husband loves bread pudding, so I’ll have to try your version soon.
What a sweet post, Monet. It makes me look forward to being a mother so so much 🙂 And it sounds like the bread pudding was the perfect sweet end to a sweet day!
Your little girl is a doll, just gorgeous, and this bread pudding looks and sounds wonderful. Love your work.
This bread pudding is so enticing! Would love to have a slice. I hope you are keeping well and settling down into motherhood 🙂
This post is a wonderful reminder to slow down and appreciate all the small moments in life, the little things that we might otherwise take for granted.
And your recipe for banana bread pudding sounds divine — especially those rum-soaked cherries!
I have never made bread pudding before! Damn this looks so tasty, great flavors!
Hi Monet,
This is a lovely post, makes me almost wish I have a baby all over again!
And the bread pudding looks so good!
Lucy is adorable! 🙂
That made me feel more relaxed just reading it. Slowing down is definitely something I need to do these days. Slowing down with this delicious bread pudding that is. Happy Tuesday!
The bread pudding looks absolutely lovely and so is baby:) Smell the baby smell on her before she grew out of it:P
It is beautiful to read about your days of early motherhood – you have so many days to cherish ahead too! And this bread pudding is looking so good – I’m not a fan of raw bananas, but I love them cooked into sweets! Yum!
Cherry and banana sounds like just the right combination for a soothing bread pudding. I never think to make bread puddings for some reason, but I’m going to have to fix that. 🙂 And do I spy a hand-knitted blanket? Yay, beautiful handknits for a beautiful baby!
Baby tongues are the cutest! I can imagine Lucy poking hers out.
I like to read how different your life with Lucy is. I know that you’ll remember this first months with smile on your face. She’s cuter with each post 🙂
I can almost smell this bread pudding right now. I am truly amazed you can cook, blog, and be all that as a new mom. I know it is incredibly hard. Do take it slow and be easy on yourself. The baby is really adorable!
Children have a way of forcing us to stop and appreciate important things in our life.
Velva
In life, I believe in happiness, letting go of the past, and loving every minute of life. When I read your blog posts, I feel all of those wonderful feelings! You and Ryan seem truly blessed, and so amazingly happy! What a lovely, and perfect recipe to make on a relaxing weekend! Your sweet little one is truly beautiful! Sending light and love my friend, Terra
Monet, one very sweet post and one adorable little Lucy and a perfect comfort style recipe to make and enjoy on that rainy Saturday evening! Love all your posts, Monet – they always leave me feeling happy! I am so glad that all is well with you, Ryan and Lucy!
Hugs from all of us!
Your life is ideal with little Lucy now in it, this is absolutely gorgeous 😀
And the pudding is utterly delicious!
Glad to be back!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
You are living your dream and we’re all so grateful that you’re sharing it with us.
Your banana bread pudding sounds very special.
She is a little dolly!!!
Kids really do turn up the ‘colors’ in your world. Everything is brighter, more interesting and all experiences are brand new! Even cooking in your own kitchen is a brand new pleasure to discover. 🙂 I myself am kind of dreaming of cooler weather to make yummy deserts we can eat warm…
I love reading your posts so much – like poetry 🙂 Enjoy those small, beautiful moments!
such a beautiful post..and simple little things in life makes everything perfect 🙂 Lucy is such a sweetheart
I have found as a Mom slowing down is absolutely essential to my well-being! So happy to see you enjoying those moments. What a wonderful picture of Lucy! Sending hugs your way.
Bread pudding is so comforting! This looks creamy and rich and delicious. Love the addition of the cherries.
I always read your posts with a smile 🙂 Just thinking about the small and simple pleasures (which are never small and simple to the receiver) helps me slow down a little and take time to appreciate the NOW. Whenever I read your writing, I feel like I’m there.
This banana pudding with cherries is so creative! It looks so delicious, especially with that whipped cream, mmm 🙂
It’s the little stuff in life that make the most lasting memories. Sounds like you’re making a lot of them. Anyway, quite nice bread pudding – really great flavors you’ve included in this. Really good stuff – thanks so much.
Truly, a recipe for happiness. Thank you for sharing.
Those cherries must have been amazing in this dish!
All about this post is so sweet, from your lovely Lucy to your descriptions and that fantastic dessert! I’m a huge fan of bread pudding and cherries, this is so my kind of thing to eat.
So much beauty in this post! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your thoughts, it really made my evening end well tonight.
Monet, you seem to be awfully busy to be reading my blog. Those pictures are precious and so is that bread pudding. Enjoy all of it!
oooohhh…. this banana pudding looks amazing Monet!! You make me wanna eat my screen immediately 😉 Great recipe, many thanks for sharing!!
xox Amy
p.s. Your daughter is beyond cute!!
Love that you combined cherries with bananas – I can only imagine how good your house smelled while you were making the bread pudding. Your daughter is so cute!
Oh, what a precious photo of Miss Lucy! And I love reading about your family time…you are blessed. xo
Such a darling! And it’s a truly beautiful photo of her. One that may need to be framed 🙂
I haven’t made bread pudding in years but I’m a big fan and may just have to give it a try with all this wonderful fruit on top.
What a beautiful post, really! I’m so happy you stopped by my blog so I was able to discover yours! I love all your recipes and the way you write your posts, you do a wonderful job!
Also, this bread pudding looks delicious, it’s such a fantastic way to use up stale bread. My favourite one, actually 😉
I had a bread pudding for dessert last week at a restaurant that was good but I think yours sounds so much better with the combination of bananas and cherries.
Your little girl is adorable, God bless her. They grow up so fast, cherish these moments, it was like yesterday I brought my bundle home and next week she is going to start high school, where did the time go…
I have never been a great fan of bread pudding, but maybe I should make it, as the last time I had it was when I was a kid. Time to pull my apron on
I remember I couldn’t even go to bathroom or take a shower like how I used to…not trying to exaggerate but I go less or take half of my time because baby is always in my mind. =P Well, by the time when you have a second, that will change, but it takes much longer to do things for sure. I remember!! I love reading your stories. Somehow all the memories start to come back (and I talk too much here). Your bread pudding looks perfect! All my favorite ingredients in here and making me happy!
Oh this is such a sweet post and so well-written! Beautiful!
Enjoy the precious moments in life. Lucy is such a sweetheart 🙂
This looks amazing! I’ve never made bread pudding with anything but raisins before, I am going to have to try it with other fruits now!