Dear Ones: Here is the Receipt you have been waiting for. . . and a confession. I don't know if Elijah Craig (my 5th Great Uncle on my mother's side) ever made Bread Pudding or not. In all likelihood his 1st wife, "Fanny" Smith made the Pudding. Elijah confined himself to preaching, fighting wars and making Kentucky Bourbon! Actually Elijah Craig Bread Pudding is a misnomer, actually it's Bread Pudding with Elijah Craig Whisky Sauce. Since one can buy Elijah Craig Bourbon today (I have a bottle in my cabinet) it makes a nice story to tell your friends as they eat the Pudding (if you are not a Terrible Toliver descendant, this story is, of course, useless). OK, here it is: Bread Pudding 1 loaf 3 day old raisin bread (frequently the 2 day old bread store will give you this) torn into small pieces or cubed. 1 quart milk 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 4 eggs, beaten lightly 1 tablespoon nutmeg 2 cups sugar 1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 cup raisins 4 tablespoons butter, cut in pieces Mix all ingredients and pour into a buttered 2-quart casserole dish. Bake 1 hour @ 350 degrees. This Pudding is simple and almost impossible to mess up. It is not, however, designed for those on diets! Serve with the following Elijah Craig Bourbon Whisky Sauce. Elijah Craig Bourbon Whiskey Sauce 1/4 pound butter 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 cup, Elijah Craig Bourbon Whiskey Heat butter and sugar together until sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear (be patient, use medium heat and stir constantly so it doesn't burn or carmelize) Remove from heat and cool. Add beaten egg mixture, slowly, with gentle mixing and beat gently for about 1 minute. Add Elijah Craig Bourbon Whiskey, slowly, while continuing to beat gently. This is really good spooned over the pudding! Now, truth be told, this receipt comes from Louisiana Entertains, the official cookbook of the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition, p. 192, by Terry H. Easterling. A perfectly acceptable receipt for Bread Pudding and Whiskey Sauce appears on pages 1022 & 1024 of The All New, All Purpose Joy of Cooking, by the Irma S. and Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker. (you don't need to confess this to your friends, just bask in the story of Elijah's Bourbon, which all TRUE Toliver descendants should have in the house.) Please enjoy this during the Holidays and I wish all Terrible Toliver Descendants a very Merry Holiday Season and a very Prosperous New Millenium. Maralee and Ron Gollberg, Asheville, NC.