Fantastic Caramel Bread Pudding - cooking recipe

Ingredients

12 slices Texas toast thick bread, stale, but not hard
3/4 cup raisins
4 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups half-and-half or 3 cups milk
CARAMEL SAUCE
1/4 lb butter (no substitutions)
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup heavy cream

Preparation

Set oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a 2-qt baking dish.
Trim the crust off of bread, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
Scatter bread crumbs into baking dish.
Sprinkle the raisins over bread cubes.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and milk.
Pour the mixture over the bread cubes.
Pressing the bread down with a spatula to help absorb the liquid.
Let sit for 30 minutes.
Place the baking dish with the pudding mix, into a larger pan.
Pour water 2/3 of the way up the outside dish to make a water bath.
Bake for 1-1/4 hours, until puffed and firm.
FOR CARAMEL SAUCE: Melt butter in a small saucepan.
Then whisk in the 1/2 cup brown sugar, then stir for 3-5 minutes.
Add in the heavy cream, and continue to stir for 2 mins more.
Top sauce onto bread pudding.