Cheddar Gorgeous! Cheese and Onion Bread and Butter Pudding

I have always prefered savoury food to sweet food, and this is a recipe I made up for a savoury version of one of my favourite sweet puddings, Bread and Butter Pudding. This savoury dish is easy to rustle up and makes a tasty supper, breakfast, brunch or lunch dish. Do try to use mature farmhouse Cheddar cheese, a little goes a long way as the flavour is so pronounced. This can be made the night before you need it, for breakfast or brunch, and then baked next morning - a great make ahead meal! NB: Do NOT use standard American style sandwich bread, it is too thin and will not crisp up!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• SANDWICHES

• 8  slices  thick bread (white) or 8  slices  wholemeal  bread
•  butter, softened to spread
• 1  onion, peeled and finely sliced
• 8  ounces  mature farmhouse cheddar cheese, grated

• CHEESE CUSTARD

• 1  pint milk
• 3  eggs, lightly beaten
• 1  teaspoon English mustard
•  salt and pepper
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh mixed herbs or 1  teaspoon dried herbs, to taste

• OPTIONAL EXTRAS

•  tomatoes, sliced (optional)
•  sliced ham (optional)
•  cooked sausage (optional)
•  cooked and crumbled bacon (optional)
•  branston pickle (optional)
•  chutney (optional)

Directions

1. Butter 8 slices of bread and make sandwiches with the grated mature cheese and sliced onion. Cut the the sandwiches into four triangles and arrange them standing up with the points to the top, in a well greased baking dish. (Do NOT use standard American style sandwich bread, it is too thin and will not crisp up!).
2. (Feel free to vary to contents of the sandwiches. If it doesn't have to be a vegetarian dish, some ham would be very nice. Or you might want to put some pickle on the sandwiches, some sliced tomatoes, cooked sausage or whatever you fancy.).
3. Beat the eggs with the milk, mustard powder, salt, pepper, and the herbs.
4. Pre-heat oven to 200C or 400°F.
5. Pour the egg custard mixture over the sandwiches. (If you had any cheese left over, sprinkle it on top. Onion, too if you have any left over.) Allow the pudding to stand for about 30 minutes before baking - you get a lighter pudding.
6. Bake the bread and butter pudding in the pre-heated oven for about 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese custard has set and the cheese on the top is golden.
7. In a nutshell - it's cheese sandwiches with savoury custard poured over then baked in the oven - or savoury bread and butter pudding!
8. Serve warm for breakfast, brunch, lunch or supper. Can be prepared the night before and baked next morning - bring it to room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking it however.