Recipe: Summer pudding

Summer pudding

Total time: 20 minutes, plus chilling time

Servings: 8 to 10

Note: Adapted from a recipe by Lindsey Shere in “The Baker’s Dozen Cookbook.”

About 1/2 pound white sandwich bread, crusts trimmed, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices

3 pints fresh berries (such as boysenberries, red, golden or black raspberries, blackberries, in any combination)

1/2 pint fresh red currants, optional

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon kirsch

Lightly sweetened whipped cream

1. Line an 8- to 9-inch square baking dish with plastic wrap, leaving enough overhang to cover the top of the pudding. Line the bottom of the prepared pan with a tight-fitting layer of bread, trimming to fit.

2. In a large nonreactive skillet, heat the berries and optional currants with the sugar over medium heat just until they give off their juices. Remove from heat and sprinkle with the kirsch. Spoon half of the berry mixture over the bread. Top with a second layer of bread, then the remaining berry mixture, and a final layer of bread. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap. Place another baking dish of the same size on top of the pudding, and weight with a few heavy cans. Place on a baking sheet to catch any juices, and refrigerate overnight.

3. Unwrap the top of the pudding. Invert the pudding onto a serving platter (with a lip to hold the juices) and unmold, pulling off the plastic wrap. Cut into 8 to 10 squares and transfer to dessert plates. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

Each of 10 servings: 205 calories; 3 grams protein; 40 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams fiber; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 10 mg. cholesterol; 25 grams sugar; 158 mg. sodium.