Bena Mae’s Kitchen: Snow stories

It was snowing heavily and blowing to the point that visibility was almost zero when the young lady got off work. She made her way to the car and wondered how she was going to make it home.
She finally remembered her daddy’s advice that if she got caught in a blizzard she should wait for a snow plow to come by and follow it.  That way she would not get stuck in a snow drift. She was feeling pretty smug and sure enough in a little while a snow plow went by and she started t follow it.
After quite some time had passed, she was somewhat surprised when the snow plow stopped and the driver got out and came back to her car and signaled for her to roll her window down. He wanted to know if she was alright as she had been following him for a long time.
She said that she was fine and told him of her daddy’s advice to follow a snow plow when caught in a blizzard.  
The driver replied that it was okay with him and she could continue if she wanted to, but he was done with the Wal-Mart parking lot and was going over to K-Mart next.
 Do you feel that we’re in a time warp. For the past couple of weeks we have had snow one day, clearing the next, then more snow, then clearing and on and on. It’s been like a scene in Bill Murray’s Ground Hog Day. And the TV weather guys are ecstatic.
I’ve worn out my TV remote  trying to find something to take my mind off the forced isolation, and watching HGTV is a guilt trip, reminding me that my own house could use some TLC during this period of seclusion. But who cares?  Nobody’s coming.
Everyone I talk to seems to be under this cloud of depression. There is no antidote, except hoping there will be a change in the weather. Soon.
My last snow story from a man in Texas demonstrates the mood of many of us who consider snow a four-letter word:  
 “I’ve seen snow twice in the 10 years I’ve lived in Austin, Texas. Twice at home in Texas anyway. About five years ago I was working for a couple weeks in Chicago during the early spring (much later than even they should see snow) and it started snowing. I was walking in from the parking lot next to a woman. I didn’t know her, but I delightedly told her “I haven’t seen snow in five years!” She looked at me a little grumpily and said “I don’t know who you are, but I’m going to SLAP you!” Amen and Amen.

Delight guests with this fruity bread pudding made with their signature Cinnamon Raisin bread.

Panera Bread Pudding with Apples, Pecans and Raisins
Source: Panera Bread

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 loaf Cinnamon Raisin White Bread torn into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup pecan halves
Zest and juice of 1 large orange
1/4 cup apple cider
1 tablespoon vanilla extract or rum
8 small baking apples (about 2 pounds) such as Fuji, Gala or Granny Smith, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup apple, quince, or blackberry jam or jelly

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Add the bread and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until well coated.
Add the sugar, pecans, orange zest and juice, cider, and vanilla extract.
Cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes until a sauce begins to form.
In a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, layer the bread mixture with the apples and dot the top with the jam or jelly.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes, or until bubbly.
Serves 4