Mushroom Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 1/2 cups (10oz) shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 (16oz) italian bread loaf
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
• 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

Melt the butter with the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then add the mushrooms and saute for 2 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, black pepper and thyme and saute for 5 minutes or until the onion is tender. Remove the crust from the bread loaf, then cut the loaf into 1-inch cubes. Place half of the bread cubes in a lightly greased 2-quart baking dish and top with the mushroom mixture. Cover with the remaining bread cubes. Whisk together the eggs, milk and salt, then pour over the bread. Cover and chill for 8 hours. Sprinkle the bread mixture with red pepper and cheese and bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until set.