The month of love is upon us and so I thought it would be best to spread some of the wonderful knowledge obtained over the years in the locker room. Don’t panic men of the world, not spilling secrets, just helping you out on a few things (I promise).
Men are not into the details. They just don’t think this way.
If you ever watched the movie Legally Blonde there is a great scene where the lead character Elle is asking about her shoes. “Don’t stomp your little last season Prada shoes at me, honey” is what the gay guy says to her about her shoes. Turns to her straight ex and asks what kind of shoes am I wearing…he says “black”. Your husband or boyfriend may be trained by now, I mean even my husband can pick out a Coach bag (though he could not tell you if it was real or fake) but overall, men are just not paying attention.
Before you go off saying that if he loved you or heck even liked you he would notice. Yeah, not so much. In some ways this is good and you should go with it (think back to all the times you have said “this old thing” and gotten away with it). First off, if your husband/boyfriend is bad about not noticing what outfit you wore on your first date that you had 7 years ago, you should just be happy that after 7 years have gone by you are still together. Nagging on him because he didn’t remember you were wearing the red Marc Jacobs dress with the small slit down the right leg with the T-strap nude heels really doesn’t get anywhere.
And if he does remember the outfit, it’s more likely just how your boobs looked in it, than the outfit itself. But really what are you gaining? Do you love him more because you remember he was wearing a black cashmere sweater, white button down J. Crew shirt (that no doubt some ex-girlfriend bought him), and jeans?
Some may find it unromantic but I have lists. Amazon.com. Anthropologie. Tiffany’s(a girl can hope). Nordstrom’s…they all have wish lists with my name on them. This takes stress away from my husband. He appreciates it greatly. I get what I want and am therefore happy. I am happy, therefore he is happy. He has lists too. I greatly appreciate it as well.
I recently forgot this rule. I forgot that men don’t take big giant, giant, in your face everyday for over two years hints.
Case in point. I have a small love of Louis Vuitton handbags. I own a couple. I always want more in my consumer driven life. 🙂 So for over two years I had what I thought was a decent sized picture of the Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Hampstead PM hanging up on my cork board which hangs over my computer. In the computer room. That we both share. Clearly he would have caught on. As a woman I would think so. As a man, no. And I should have remembered that.
When we came into some bonus money I had made a comment/joke(though truth in humor) about how he should get me my purse now.
“What purse?” What purse I thought to myself, giving him the lovely WTF look.
“The purse in the picture above my computer.”
He stared.
“How long has that been up there?”
“Over two years.”
“Really?”
Needless to say, I own that purse now. The hints did not work. Hints never work. Stop hinting ladies.
Women, however are good at taking hints. So when my friend R started to reminisce about a bread pudding I had made for him and his friends a few months back I knew what he really meant was, please make us some bread pudding. So I did. Though I made it in a flavor I wanted. Brown sugar with apples and a nice toffee sauce.
We all know I love bread pudding and this one is no exception. I added a little Lyle’s Golden Syrup and it added a nice caramely flavor to it. Mmmm. So very good.
Brown Sugar-Apple Crossiant Bread Pudding with Toffee Sauce
4 large croissants or 6 small ones
1 pint heavy cream
4 egg yolks
¼ cup Lyle’s Golden Syrup
½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 cup apples, diced (you could probably used dried as well)
1 cup raisins
Preheat oven to 350F
Tear the croissants into pieces. Place half of them onto bottom of a prepared baking dish (buttered 8-x-x8).
Sprinkle bread evenly with ½ cup raisins and ½ cup apples.
Mix the egg yolks, brown sugar, Lyle’s Golden Syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl. Then stir in the heavy cream. Whisk until thoroughly combined.
Pour ½ the custard over the bread. Press down the bread pieces until the bread is soaked with the custard.
Place remaining bread on top of the soaked bread. Then sprinkle with remaining apples and raisins. Pour the remaining custard over and again, press down on the bread pieces until they are soaked with the custard.
You will most likely have extra custard depending on how stale your crossiants are. Don’t feel like you have to use all the custard.
Place pan into another pan that will hold a water bath. Bake the bread pudding for 45 minutes until golden on top. Cool 10 minutes and serve warm.
Toffee Sauce
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup whipping cream
Stir brown sugar and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until melted and smooth, about 2 minutes.
Add cream and bring to a simmer. Simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve over bread pudding warm.
Jenny says
i love this post because it is entirely, 100% true. girls are fabulous at taking hints, and it’s practically our only non-aesthetic tool to get boys to like us.
we can conjure up memories of grandma’s house and sunday morning cartoons with one batch of perfect brownies and a vintage teenage mutant ninja turtles t-shirt. and if we bake those cookies while wearing only that t-shirt, we win even faster.
boys are so easy to figure out =).
Linda says
I’m good at hints. I usually pick them up quickly. But yes my hubby does need to be told. Although he remember what I wore on our first date. He doesn’t remember what day we got married but he remembers the jacket I wore on our first date. Clearly I should have wore it to our wedding.
cindy says
i keep a wish list at anthropologie and amazon too. i also send emails with the subject line “i want…” and links with photos.
hinting gets me nowhere. i learned this early on…plus, those kinds of battles are not ones i want to fight.
Jen says
I adore your blog. Every day that it turns up in my Google Reader I read it first!! Thanks for being awesome.
elly says
All of your treats always look amazing, but I am always most won over by your bread puddings. This one is no different, and I am drooling like crazy.
deana@lostpastremembered says
Thanks for stopping by my blog… your Vuitton story made me laugh… the pudding made me drool. Great post.
Zazzy says
First, I love bread pudding and that looks delicious. It goes on my list of reward foods.
Second, men and hints. I remember one holiday season some years ago when my mother called me crying because dad had asked what she wanted for Christmas and she had fallen in love with this particular teddy bear – and he said it was stupid. Sometimes men can’t take outright requests, no less hints. I, however, am good at taking hints so I was able to cross one gift off on my list.
Abby says
I could come home from the salon with my head shaved and scalp dyed purple and my husband wouldn’t notice. I kid you not. Needless to say when I want something I have to drop a LOT of NOT so subtle “hints!”
I’ve never eaten bread pudding; can you believe that? I’ve always assumed it was a Southern dish, but you never see it around N.C. But I’m curious because the only thing I love mroe than bread is sugar!
Memoria says
Woah!! This post was full of generalizations haha. My girlfriend is NOT good at hints, so I would assume not all women are good at hints either. Also, some men are good at hints. For example, my ex-husband (long story) was very good at picking up on what I wanted or needed. You even mentioned the guy in Legally Blonde who was able to pick out the brand of shoes Elle was wearing; he obviously could pick up on the details. Whether he’s attracted to men or women doesn’t matter; the fact remains that he is a guy. So, there are guys who can pick up on hints and details, and women who cannot. 🙂
Nevertheless, I think your suggestion of making wish lists available for your man OR woman is a FANTASTIC idea. I will keep that in mind.
The bread pudding looks amazing as well. You’re such a great friend.
nina says
We also work on the list system and with children, well you just whisper in their little ears a week or so before your birthday!!!
The breadpudding is everything I want in a breadpudding…lots of crunchy bits, gooey soft fruit and a rich caramel flavor…..yeahhhhhhh you scored!!!
Manggy says
Gosh Pea, way to make me nervous when I saw the first paragraphs… Ha ha ha. Anyway, absolutely true. And… that’s as far as that comment goes 😉
I would always be very obvious if I knew you could make such a delicious pudding, if you ask me 🙂
Irene says
LOL!!! My husband is just like that. Therefore, I too make lists. 🙂 It really takes the stress out of the equation. I love bread pudding, love love love it. But I’ve never made it this way – brown sugar and toffee sauce. This clearly has to be remedied ASAP.
Elle says
It’s so true! Hints don’t even register most of the time.
I’m going to bring a spoon…need to have some of that bread pudding! ooohh with Lyle’s and croissants and heavy cream and apples…too good!
Anda says
I’m at work, i’m hungry and I love apples and raisins and everything baked with apples. So please solve this and send some of it over so I don’t drool myself to death 🙂
sugar plum says
This yummy luscious bake specially for hints galore…..:-))))this is so gooddd….
Rosa says
So true ;-P! Notheless, my boyfriend bought me a KA after all those years of hinting!!!
That is a scrumptious treat! Divine!
Cheers,
Rosa
Wendyywy says
Ha!! I never hinted, told him straight in the face I want a new camera, and he better get me one!!!
kristine says
I need to start some of those lists!
Mary says
mmmmmm bread pudding. Now that’s love! 🙂
Barbara says
I remember that scene in Legally Blonde. And you’re absolutely right…hinting doesn’t work. And lack of taking the hint doesn’t mean a lack of love. Men are just programmed differently. We’re used to it! I think the hint lists are great and use the one on Amazon all the time.
Yummy bread pudding! Toffee sauce just make it stickier- love it. Men really like bread pudding, but I think they like most comfort-type foods, don’t you?
Julie says
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!!! Comments motivate me to want to blog and be better. I love reading your blog. It’s one I read every day. Your stories are wonderful!
Love bread pudding! This recipe looks yummy!!
Cara says
So there’s no chance my husband will learn to read my mind in the next 10 days and get me a gift card for a massage?
The bread pudding looks delicious!
bellini valli says
Where’s my spoon!!!!!!!!!!!
Jade says
This is so true!! Men do not take hints at all. Women on the other hand are so good at hints that they can hint at something and not truly mean what they say but we do it anyway. Bread pudding looks fabulous. I have never made it but will have to try this soon.
dawn says
ha ha! what a great read. As much as I love Louis Vuitton, hubby knows to get me a gift cert. to whole foods, williams sonoma or sur la table and I will be a happy happy person.
Julie says
Funny story. I COMPLETELY agree that hinting with men is a waste of time:)
Nutmeg Nanny says
I totally agree with you. Men suck at hints. I hint till I can hint no more and he still doesn’t get it. I now just email him my wish lists…haha.
This bread pudding looks great too. The toffee sauce is amazing!
MIA says
Story couldn’t be more true & the recipe couldn’t be more inviting!
Mrs. L says
I’m not a fan of bread pudding but my husband is. And since, without even hinting, I’ve had some of those nice Tiffany bags sent my way for various holidays, I’d say I should just make this for him anyway 🙂
Lex says
Wondering where a person in the US can find Lyle’s Golden Syrup. From their website seems like it’s only distributed to UK stores.
Peabody says
Well, I live in the US and I buy it at my grocery store. You can also probably buy it on Amazon.com
Joanne says
I loved this post and thought it was absolutely hysterical! So true about men. Everything you said 😀
Bread pudding is one of my obsessions that you’ve made infinitely better with croissants. I’m definitely going to have to try to make this!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I’ve been a follower of yours for a while! I’ll have to comment more :p
Bethany says
Wish lists are the best — not only because my husband doesn’t take hints, but also because I am a terrible gift giver! The worst! This Christmas almost everyone in my family had a wish list and it was the most stress-free holiday season I have ever had 🙂
Bread pudding with CROISSANTS? yes please.
Juliana says
Very funny what you wrote…I gave up sending hints to my husband…I reach efficiency by telling him directly what I want 🙂 The croissant bread pudding looks amazing…nice pictures as well!
Kristin says
Just thought you might want an update on the Bonney Lake baristas…http://www.seattlepi.com/local/415085_coffee05.html?source=rss
Ugh!
Livin Local says
Abby, I am so with you on the hair situation. Sigh. The Legally Blond reference was spot on. And speaking of spot on, your decadent bread pudding made with croissants is gorgeous!
Lynn says
Hints? No. Sledgehammer? Maybe. Buy it myself. Yes.
Totally decadent bread pudding. I’m licking the toffee sauce off the monitor.
Cassie Baker says
I didn’t discover my love for bread pudding until last year. This one looks like I could tattoo it’s name on my arm!!
Lauren says
It just depends what you’re hinting about. If you want a Peyton Manning jersey for last year’s Valentine’s Day, he remembers that. Shoes? Not so much. I think men just glaze over when we talk about clothes, shoes, make-up.
Kerstin says
A crossiant bread pudding?!? I’m drooling! I do have to just tell my hubby what I want directly, which I’ve gotten good at… 🙂
gattina says
hehee… your story makes me chuckle 😀 I am sure my husband still gets me a wrong purse even he carries that picture with him to the store!
These days I was looking up a few food bloggers that used to be very active a couple years ago, so sad to see their blogs no longer active… until I saw your recent comment, wow so warm and comfortable! just like this bread pudding!
joey says
Wow! A bread pudding with croissants! And apples! And toffee sauce! Can I come over??? 🙂
You certainly hit the nail on the head when it comes to guys…I always tell my girlfriends, if you want something from a guy, ask for it!
Jaime says
i totally agree w/you on the hinting. men just don’t get it!
this bread pudding looks divine.
hope you’ve been doing well, peabody. i’ve been on a bit of a blog visiting hiatus since the little monkey was born but now that i’m a bit more adjusted to life with a little being, i hope to be coming back to visit your blog more frequently again 🙂
Cakelaw says
Mmmm….. this does look so very good. Guys are crap at taking hints! Blunt and direct work wonders with them.
Sweets at Vicky's says
I love hints, but I’m so not subtle. I think I am, but I’m not. haha, lucky my boyfriend is good at picking up not so subtle hints. problem is, I want everything so I don;t think my hints work all the time. 🙂 Now, I am HINTING that I would love to have some of your awesome breadpudding. :)GlutenFree breadpudding doesnt cut it I’m afraid.
Lisa says
Jebus H. Christmas, Gracie.. you’re killin me again.. I didn’t think the croissant bread pudding could be made better. Apples! Of course! I won’t forget them next time I make it. 😉
Oh and my husband? You could draw a picture and staple it to his forehead and he’d never get it. You could permanently tattoo what you want on his arm and he’d forget it was there.. I could hire a Guyspeak translator and he’d instantly not understand the language. *sigh*
Therefore.. I just ask him for his credit card after I’ve filled the cart up. 😉 xoxoxoxo
ingrid says
For me it really isn’t the same when I have to TELL him (repeatedly) what I want.
Btw, I love for the cinnamon roll cheesecake in your last post. My one twin will love you for this one. (He will then ask that I sub out apples for bananas. It’s his way.)
~ingrid
Carine says
Oh Oh My GOD! Ooh Oh my GOD!!!!! This is……..
Traca | Seattle Tall Poppy says
I want to be your goat. I’m just sayin…. 🙂
Kelly S. says
I am so craving this bread pudding but I haven’t been able to find Lyle’s golden syrup near me. Can I substitute something else for it?