Monday, October 10, 2011

Winning Panettone and a Winner

There are many legends surrounding panettone - a delectable Christmas confection of a bread from Milan. Most of the legends have to do with love. So it was with great delight that I arrived home with my love from our Italian getaway - a country of love - to two boxes of Bauducco's Pantettone welcoming me. For fun, find some of the stories about how panettone came to be here.


After two weeks of feasting and not any cooking, I was anxious to get back into the kitchen. After I slept for two days. The Bauducco Panettone was given to me as part of the Tastemaker program at Foodbuzz. I have made Panettone. It's not the sort of thing you put together in the morning for your evening meal. And it shouldn't be. It's for the holidays - it's celebratory. It takes a wee bit of work.


 I was greeted with the scent of vanilla as I unwrapped the package. Soft and pliable - it is not the panettone sold at most grocers over Christmas. One loaf - designed for stuffing contained raisins and the other loaf - designed for French Toast and bread pudding contains bits of chocolate. So, it was not the traditional Milanese load containing many fruits such as citron.

I made the stuffing first. I traditionally make sausage-apple stuffing - I like it savory. This was to be a sweeter stuffing - with additions such as dried apricots and sour cherries. It felt like autumn in my kitchen. Outside it was 87 degrees F (I think Minnesota did not want me missing Italy too much so it arranged for a second summer - I felt all sultry - autumning it in Rome - at home).


Panettone Stuffing (serves 6-8)
1 Bauducco Panettone with Sun-Maid raisins (26.2 oz. package)
1/2 cup butter
3 teaspoons finely shopped fresh sage
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried sour cherries (dried cranberries would also work)
1/2 cup dried apricots - cut into thin strips
1-1/2 cups finely chopped onion (I used 1 cup)
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 cup finely chopped carrots
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth


  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the panettone into 3/4 inch squares and place in a large bowl. Melt half the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook bread squares until they are browned - about five minutes (mine browned much faster). Remove from heat and add half the sage, salt and pepper. Gently toss the bread. Spread the bread squares on two baking sheets and bake until toasted - about fifteen minutes. Transfer toasted squares to a large bowl.
  2. Place the dried fruit in a medium bowl. Add boiling water to cover. Sewt aside to plump and soften. Drain plumped fruit.
  3. Increase oven to 375 degrees F. Heat remaining butter in a medium saucepan (I used same one I used to toss the panettone). Add onions, carrots and celery and cook over medium-low heat until softened. Remove from heat. Add sage and fruit and toss. Add to bowl with toasted bread and toss. Add broth to moisten. Pour all into 9x13 ovenproof casserole dish and bake uncovered until golden brown - about 40 minutes.


I paired it with a simple pork chop. The family swooned. This was perfect autumn fare - dried fruits, sage -- and the stuffing was packed with autumn colors. I'm glad they were thrilled but I did wonder - perhaps they were tired of my sausage-apple stuffing after 20 years? They loved the sweet. And they all had stuffing for lunch the next day.

For the last two years I have made Ciao Chow Linda's Panettone bread pudding - it's impossibly rich and I feel decadent and wicked when I add all those eggs and heavy cream. After being so good in the days leading up to Christmas - a little wickedness always seems in order. So you can use Linda's - or you can use Bauducco's. They both evoke warmth and the cozy. Below is Bauducco's. For Linda's... follow the link.

Panettone Bread Pudding - serves 8
6 ounces Bauducco Panettone - thinly sliced - about 8 slices
2 cups whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup rum (I omitted it; I don't tend to mix rum with my wine)
3/4 cup sweet Marsala (I added 1 cup)
3 eggs
2 teaspoons grated orange zest
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
confectioner's sugar (I omitted that - it's pretty - but didn't need it)




  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a shallow 3-quart baking dish. Layer the panettone slices in the baking dish. 
  2. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the milk and sugar. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat and add the rum, Marsala and heavy cream.
  3. In a bowl, beat the eggs, orange zest and cinnamon. Slowly stir it in the milk mixture. Pour the mixture over the panettone slices, pressing down on the slices to keep them submerged. Bake for 30 minute or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean (it took 40 minutes in my oven).  Serve warm or chilled, sprinkled with confectioner's sugar.
(My family wanted ice cream - in fact they wanted salty caramel gelato and that's what they were served/



I later baked them again for fifteen minutes and cut them into squares and served them the next day to a group as "bars." The group loved the tender, fluffy vanilla-scented bites.

Both dishes were delicious. The panettone was light and really you could just slice it and eat it. But as I said - if you want the traditional - this does not include all the fruits that it is famous for but it does make for one satisfying bread slice! Spread it with Nutella or a rich berry jam. You will evoke smiles. Now for the giveaway....

(Don't you love random people in your photos - do you ever make up a story about them?)

The winner of  The Cuisine of Italy from the Random Number Generator was #1 - Claudia from What's Cookin' Italian Style Cuisine. Congratulations to Claudia and I will be gathering your info to get that out to you ASAP. Thanks for the warm welcome home, all. There's no place like home... and there's no place like Italy.

32 comments:

Jeannie said...

Lucky you to get those delicious panettones to try and you did try them in such perfect dishes! wish I could savor some! I missed that Colliseum while I was there and am still regretting it to this day and dreaming of being back there one day:)

Jill Colonna said...

Claudia, this is the first time I've heard of this panettone stuffing. This sounds fabulous - no wonder the family swooned at this one! Must give this a try on my Corsican mother-in-law.

The pudding also looks wonderful, as is the last photo. That place freaked me out, just thinking of the gladiators and life at the time. As for the people, bet the dude in the pink shirt and sunglasses has a few stories to tell...

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

Oh boy I am over whelmed besides delighted cant wait to try that pudding too ..... I love pannettone so much I am not sure I will be able to cook with mine... its just delightful! I am so excited Thank you so much! I love Italy too but never lucky enough to have the time to go... maybe someday :) xoxox thanks so much Claudia!!!!

Wanda..... said...

I just may have to make 2 stuffings this Thanksgiving....our family recipe favorite and the Panettone Stuffing!

That Girl said...

I've never heard any of the panettone stories. I feel utterly deprived ;-)

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Your stuffing AND bread pudding both look fantastic. Bread pudding + salted caramel ice cream is truly a winning combo :)

Congrats to my friend, Claudia, on the win!!!

Sprigs of Rosemary said...

I love panettone but have never attempted to make it. Love the lure surrounding it too. Aside from just eating it, the only things I've ever done is make French toast with it and bread pudding. Delightful twists on traditional dishes. I'm inspired to make stuffing now!

Unknown said...

What a fantastic use of the panettone! Both dishes look delicious.

How appropriate for Claudia to win that cookbook. Congrats!

Gina said...

Oh how I love bread pudding, it's close though with that salty caramel gelato thrown in. I think you should have told the tale of your long lost brother in the bottom of the photo, he he. I'm sure you are Luna meeting was no accident. Lovely stories both of them, it must have been magical.
-Gina-

Island Vittles said...

What a lucky lady you are to return home from Italy, only to get to play with 2 loaves of Panettone! The bread pudding looks to be right up my alley...Theresa

Kelly | Eat Yourself Skinny said...

Wow what a great recipe, this looks fantastic! :)

Angie's Recipes said...

The result of these panettone premix is amazing! You have just changed my prejudice against the premix.

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Is it Thanksgiving yet? Well in Canada I guess. I want that stuffing. Thanks for the shout-out and yes, I do make up stories about random people. When my daughter was young, we'd pick out people walking by and elaborate on what we thought their "story" was.

Velva said...

Each year, I buy a panettone...I tear off pieces and dip into my coffee. It never occurred to me that I could make stuffing-Oh so very good. I may never look at this holiday bread the same again.

Cheers.
Velva

Reeni said...

Lucky you for having a holiday feast! A preview of what's to come. Your stuffing looks incredibly good. I love it plain smeared with butter.

Stacey Snacks said...

This is decadent!
I love a pannettone bread pudding, so why not a stuffing??? WOW!

chow and chatter said...

wow love the idea of making a stuffing :-) looking forward to seeing your ploughmans lunch he he

tasteofbeirut said...

I adore panettone, I simply have to eat it first, it is the best baked good out of Italy if you ask me (well, with sfogliatelle). This is a wonderful way to liven up pork.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

For several years now, I've wanted to make pannetone and have been too timid to try it. Nudge me some more! lol

I know all of those people in that picture! We were having a family reunion of sorts that day. I thought yould were going to stop in and say, "Hi!".

Congrats to the winnwer!

Beth said...

Congratulations to Claudia! And I love your photo of the Colosseum. Brings back wonderful memories of an amazing city.

FOODESSA said...

A delightful treat to accompany our upcoming colder days. A warm cup of coffee with a spoonful of nutella may just accompany as well. LOL

Congrats to Claudia for winning that great recipe book you brought back from la bella Italia;o)

Ciao for now,
Claudia

The Food Hunter said...

What a great idea using panettone for stuffing. I will have to try theis one.

Cristina, from Buenos Aires to Paris said...

This is teh first time I see panettone for sth savory..I mist try this..I'm sure it is to "die for" Thanks!!

Emily Malloy said...

There is nothing quite like a good panettone!! Yum!

Sook said...

The bread pudding looks so good with all those ingredients in it.

Catherine said...

What a wonderful and delicious idea, Claudia! I love panettone...I will save this for the holidays!
Blessings, Catherine

Anonymous said...

Congrats to the winner & those panettone recipes are to die for,..really tasty food!

MMMMMM,...Excellent pictures of the Coloseum!

Christine's Pantry said...

Your stuffing and bread pudding both look wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

SKIP TO MALOU said...

it must be a delightful feeling to receive a box of panettone with a sweet vanilla smell.
Good take too on making them into stuffing and pudding. I would love to have either or better both? haha.
I hope your Sunday is lovely,
malou

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Feeling decadent and wicked is something we all need in life sometimes. Lucky you to receive such a rich bread from Foodbuzz.
Sam

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

I got my Italian cookbook today, cant wait to try some of these awesome recipes.. again thank you so much I am delighted to have some authentic recipes from the many wonderful parts of Italy, I love the book ! Thanks so much Cant wait to get started...

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I love panettone! Those are great recipes. I particularly like the bread pudding. Simply divine!

Cheers,

Rosa