Tomato Basil Bread Side Dish

Well it happened again.  We ate this before I could take a picture of the final product!  Earlier this year I got the new Weeknights with Giada cookbook.  It hasn't let me down yet!  This is a great side dish.  Something different than just bread and butter.  In the cookbook it is called a bread pudding but that is just weird to me.  I think of bread pudding as a dessert.  This is a savory bread dish.  Its really good so try it!!

Ingredients:
1/2 multi grain loaf (8 oz) cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1/3 cup olive oil
1 large or 2 small shallots, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves minced
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 packed cup chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
7 large eggs, at room temperature
1 cup whole milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and be sure that the rack is in the center of the oven.  Butter or spray pam into a 9x13 glass baking dish and add the bread cubes.  Set this aside. 

Over medium high heat in a large skillet, heat the olive oil.  Add the shallots and garlic, stir constantly and cook for about 1 minute. 

Add the tomatoes, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  Cook for about 2 minutes. 

Remove the pan from the heat and add the basil.

oops a little blurry!

 Pour this tomato mixture into the bread cubes, add the Parmesan cheese and stir together. 

yayy for cheese!

  In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper until well blended.

 Pour this mixture over the bread and toss gently to coat. 

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until it is slightly puffy and golden brown.  Cool for 5 minutes then cut into wedges to serve.