Chocolate chip bread pudding

I always pass by the clearance grocery area in Walmart to see what i can scoop up for cheap. And today when I went shopping I passed by and saw a mound literally of French bread that was no longer fresh. And any true southerner sees day old French bread and automatically thinks of bread pudding....what you don't, well I should restate that the fat southern girl inside of me screamed "I need bread pudding" so I had to feed her. So here's a southern staple done with a chocolates twist!!!! Enjoy.....and Eat on!!! 

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups sugar

1 tblsp allspice

1 tblsp nutmeg

1 tblsp cinnamon

2 cups milk

2 tsp vanilla

5 large eggs, beaten

1/2 stick butter

1 cup of chopped pecans

1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips

4 cups old French bread(not moldy...lol) 

Rum sauce 

1 tblsp butter

2 tsp cornstarch

1/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup milk

1 tblsp rum extract(you could substitute real rum if you wanted but since we don't drink extract will do) 

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cube or tear your bread and set aside. Combine sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon into a separate bowl. In another bowl combine milk, vanilla eggs and butter. Add this mixture to dry mix. Whisk until smooth. Add bread into the bowl and toss to make sure all bread pieces are covered. Next add pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into a buttered 9"x13" pan. Top with extra pecans and chocolate chips. Bake for 50-60 mins or until golden brown.

RUM SAUCE DIRECTIONS

Combine cornstarch and brown sugar in a bowl. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Once melted add cornstarch brown sugar mix. Add milk and stir until thick. Keep stirring. If you are adding rum extract add now. If you're using alcohol REMOVE FROM HEAT before adding rum. 

Serve warm on top of bread pudding!!! Enjoy!!!