Bread Pudding (Better Homes & Garden)

Question: Could this be dinner? Last Sunday Thomas and I ate it as dinner with peaches. It's just like French Toast, so kinda a breakfast food for dinner. Anyway, we enjoyed it!

Bread Pudding:
To make bread crumbs, place them in a large, shallow baking pan and bake in a 350 [degree] F oven about 10 minutes, stirring twice.
4 beaten eggs
2 1/4 cups milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel (optional)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 cups dry French bread cubes or regular bread cubes (6 to 7 slices bread)
1/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries, or raisins 1 recipe Caramel Sauce (page 484) or Bourbon Sauce (page 484) (optional)

1. In a large bowl beat together eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, orange peel (if desired), and cinnamon. In an ungreased 2-quart square baking dish toss together bread crumbs and dried fruit; pour over egg mixture evenly over bread mixture. Press mixture lightly with back of a large spoon.
2. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 [degree] oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until puffed and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool slightly. If desired, serve warm with Caramel Sauce or Bourbon Sauce.

Pear-Ginger Bread Pudding: Prepare as above, except substitute snipped dried pears for the dried cherries or raisins. Stir orange peel into the milk mixture. Substitute 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger for the cinnamon. If desired, serve with whipped cream, Caramel Sauce, or Bourbon Sauce.

Both have (per serving) 191 calories and 4 g total fat

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding: Prepare as [above], except substitute chocolate milk for milk and semisweet chocolate pieces for the dried cherries or raisins. Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans. Omit optional orange peel. If desired, serve with vanilla ice cream.
Per serving 271 calories and 11 g total fat

~~~Recipe from Better Homes and Garden Cookbook, 12th edition, 2002.

Kitchen Hint: "Instead of throwing away bread heels or leftover cornbread, use them to make bread crumbs. For use later, store them in the freezer." (http://www.bearhaus.com/kithints.html)