Pear and Ginger Bread Pudding

Ingredients:

4 Large, very ripe, yellow Bartlett Pears 1 Loaf day-old White Bread
1 Quart Light Cream, or 1/2 and 1/2 2 Cups Heavy Cream
8 Large Eggs 4 TBS freshly grated Ginger
1 tsp. ground Cardamom 1-tsp. ground Nutmeg
2 Cups Honey I Cup Brandy
1 Cup Golden Raisins (optional) I cup sliced Almonds (optional)

Method:

1. Remove the cores from the Pears, and dice the fruit into 1-inch cubes. Mix the Pears with the Honey, Brandy, Ginger and Spices and allow them to sit for several hours in a sealed container.
2. Remove the crust from the Bread, and cut the loaf into 1 inch cubes and place the cubes into a 7" x 12`' baking dish. (evenly distributes the raisins and almonds in the dish as well, if desired.)
3. Whisk together the Cream and Eggs, and pour the mixture over the bread. Allow the bread to soak in the cream mixture for several minutes, until soft.
4. Add the marinated Pears over the bread and cream mixture, making sure to mix in all of the juices. Add some Almonds to the top of the bread pudding, and drizzle of Honey.
5. Bake the Pudding in a 350-degree oven for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes until just set, or until a knife inserted in the center of the pudding comes out clean.
Serve:
With vanilla whipped cream, and a caramel Angles sauce, or simply drizzle of more Honey.