Favorite Bread and Butter Pudding with Bourbon Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 stale slices firm-textured white bread, crusts and all (see headnote)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup dark seedless raisins (see headnote)
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup bourbon (see Tip above)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice