Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bread Pudding With Winter Fruit

• 1 (6-inch) piece vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• 1 1/2 cups 2% low-fat milk
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup chopped dried mixed fruit
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tablespoon margarine, melted
• 10 (1/2-inch-thick) slices Italian bread (about 6 1/2 ounces)
• Vegetable cooking spray
• 1 cup evaporated skimmed milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg whites

1. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean; place the seeds and bean in a small heavy saucepan. Pour 2% low-fat milk into pan, and cook over medium-low heat to 180u0b0 or until tiny bubbles form around edge of pan (do not boil). Remove from heat, and let cool; discard vanilla bean.
2. Combine boiling water, mixed fruit, and raisins in a small bowl; cover and let stand 30 minutes or until softened (do not drain).
3. Brush melted margarine over bread slices, and place bread on a baking sheet. Bake at 350u0b0 for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Arrange half of bread in an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray, tearing bread slices to fit dish, if needed. Spoon softened fruit and soaking liquid over bread; top with remaining bread.
4. Combine the vanilla-milk mixture, evaporated milk, and next 5 ingredients (evaporated milk through egg whites) in a medium bowl; stir well with a wire whisk. Pour over bread, pressing gently to moisten.
5. Cover dish, and place in a 13 x 9-inch baking pan; add hot water to pan to a depth of 1 inch. Bake at 350u0b0 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 20 minutes or until set. Serve warm.

vanilla bean, milk, boiling water, mixed fruit, raisins, margarine, italian bread, vegetable cooking spray, milk, sugar, salt, ground cinnamon, eggs, egg whites

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/old-fashioned-vanilla-bread-pudding-with-winter-fruit (may not work)