1/2 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
15 oz. well-drained, canned crushed pineapple in juice, reserve 1/3 cup juice
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup half & half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 1"-slices of challah bread
Lightly grease a 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish.
In a saucepan melt butter over moderate heat then stir in sugar until dissolved. Add pineapple, stirring well to incorporate. Spread pineapple mixture evenly in greased baking dish. Place bread slices over pineapple mixture, squeezing to fit in dish. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, half and half, reserved pineapple juice, salt, cinnamon and vanilla extract: pour egg mixture evenly over bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
Remove from refrigerator ½ hour before baking. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake in middle of oven 20 to 25 minutes or until bread is golden.
Serves 4.