Perfect Pair: Mushroom, Sausage and Spinach Bread Pudding with Wine and Beer

Try this recipe instead of stuffing this year.  It was a big hit at my pre-Thanksgiving feast.  This is one of my favorites that I love during the holidays!  Our local pairing suggestions work perfectly.  Enjoy!

Recipe:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for brushing
1 pound of Logan's Chorizo Sausage
1 yellow onion, minced
1/2 pound shiitake, oyster and baby bella mushrooms, stemmed, caps coarsely chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
5 ounces baby spinach
One 1-pound loaf of Challah, bread cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups shredded Emmi's Gruyere cheese
1 cup grated Emmi's Swiss Alp Panorama
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups heavy cream 

Preheat the oven to 350°.  In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderately high heat until lightly browned, about 7 minutes; transfer to a large bowl. Brown sausage in a skillet and transfer to the bowl. 

Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Add the spinach and cook, tossing, until wilted, about 1 minute. Add the spinach to the mushrooms with the bread, Gruyere cheese and 1/2 cup of the Panorama and toss. 

Beat the eggs in a small bowl. In a saucepan, bring the milk and cream to a boil, then gradually whisk into the eggs. Stir the custard into the bread and let stand, stirring occasionally, until absorbed, about 15 minutes. 

Butter gratin dish or 13 x 9 pan and cook for 45 minutes.

Preheat the broiler. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan and broil for about 30 seconds, or until golden. Serve hot. 

Pairings:

Boxwood Trellis 2010:  Bright crimson color with a cherry pit, floral and clove nose. Excellent concentrate, firm tannins and a medium body. Cherry, and spice dominate the palate. The finish is long with notes of white pepper.

2010 Charval from Tarara (loved the screw top)

3 Stars Brewing Co., “Winter Madness”, Winter Warmer seasonal (10.2%)

Sweet and smooth with traces of underlying booze and a lot of dried fruit on the nose, this beer wants to just wrap its boozy arms around this savory, earthy dish. The brewers also suggest pairing this seasonal with shopping, mass holiday greeting card-writing sessions, caroling, tree trimming and snow shoveling.

Special thank you to Logan's Sausage, 3 Stars, Tarara and Boxwood for participating in our Thanksgiving Lamb Feast!