Irish Bread Pudding with Caramel-Whiskey Sauce

1/4 cup light butter, melted
1 (10 ounce) French bread baguette, cut into 1-inch-thick slices
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup Irish whiskey *
1 3/4 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated skim milk
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Caramel-Whiskey Sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush melted butter on one side of French bread slices, and place bread, buttered sides up, on a baking sheet. Bake bread for 10 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes, and set aside.

Combine raisins and whiskey in a small bowl; cover and let stand 10 minutes or until soft (do not drain).

Combine 1% milk and next 4 ingredients (1% milk through eggs) in a large bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add bread cubes and raisin mixture, pressing gently to moisten; let stand 15 minutes. Spoon bread mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over pudding. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until set.

Serve warm with Caramel-Whiskey Sauce.

* Substitute 1/4 cup apple juice for the Irish whiskey, if desired.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 (3-inch) square and 2 tablespoons sauce)

Nutrition per serving: calories 362 (17% from fat); fat 6.7 g (sat 4 g, mono 2.1 g, poly 0.6 g); protein 8.1 g; cholesterol 57 mg; calcium 155 mg; sodium 269 mg; fiber 0.9 g; iron 1 mg; carbohydrates 66.7 g

Caramel-Whiskey Sauce:
1 1/2 cups sugar
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup light butter
2 ounces 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel) (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup Irish whiskey *
1/4 cup 1% low-fat milk

Combine sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly. Cook an additional 15 minutes or until golden (do not stir). Remove from heat. Carefully add butter and cream cheese, stirring constantly with a whisk (mixture will be hot and bubble vigorously). Cool slightly, and stir in whiskey and milk.

* Substitute 1 tablespoon imitation rum extract and 3 tablespoons water for the Irish whiskey, if desired.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups (serving size: 2 tablespoons)