Bread pudding with almond milk topped with strawberry compote

I had a secret mission to make as many strawberry based desserts as possible in December when we get the fruit here. Strawberry cupcakes, muffins, cake, fruit fool, ice creams and what not was there in my mind. I was totally fascinated(read jealous) by the strawberry recipes posted by Western world bloggers during summer. It was not very surprsing that I could not find the fruit even in super markets. I somehow mangaged to get a small box of strawberries paying a fortune. I just got 15 berries for the huge amount I paid of which 5 were stale. I realised that I can't even use it as a topping for dessert.

Disappointed, I was searching for strawberry recipes in Vaishali's blog and came across this bread pudding topped with strawberry compote. That suited me the best. I prepared the almond milk at home for the pudding. The pudding was awesome with the tart, sugary strawberry compote topping and pista seasoning. We liked it cold than warm. This makes for a perfect, cozy dessert.

Here is the recipe as adapted from Vaishali's..

Ingredients for the bread pudding to server 6 adults for dessert
Bread: 8-10 slices.( I used homemade sandwich bread . I cut each slice into 6 medium sized cubes and I did not trim off the edges.)Raisins: 1/2 cup 
Almond milk or soy milk: 2 1/4 cups(The original recipe calls for 3 cups. I used homemade almond milk)
Cinnamon powder: 1 tsp
Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
Sugar: 3/4 cup 
EnerG egg replacer: 6 tsp (I used corn starch)Water: 8 tbsp
Pista: broken into pieces for seasoning(optional)

Procedure
1. Pre heat the oven to 170 degree C.
2. In a smal bowl, mix together corn starch and water until smooth.
3. Whisk together the cinnamon, vanilla, sugar and corn starch. 
4. Then whisk in the almond milk until everything's incorporated.
5. In a greased square baking dish, spread out the bread evenly. Scatter the raisins on top. Now pour the almond milk mixture on top. Soak for about 30 minutes, pressing on the bread with a ladle periodically to ensure the bread gets evenly soaked.(Next time I will soak for only 15 minutes. The bread pieces at the bottom somehow got mashed completely, but that does not change the wonderful taste.)
6. Place the pudding in a water bath (a larger dish filled with about 1 inch of water).I used the tray that came with the oven as water bath.
7. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until puffy and golden on top.
8. Serve warm or cold with strawberry compote.

Ingredients for strawberry compote(I am giving the exact recipe posted by Vaishali. As I had very few berries, I just did eye measurement.)
Strawberries: 1 pound (hulled and then cut into slices)
Sugar: 1/4 -1/2 cup(use more or less depending on the tartness of your strawberries)
Cinnamon: 1 stick

Procedure
1. Place the strawberries, sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan and cook on medium heat until the strawberries break down and express their juices. 
2. Continue cooking on low heat about 10 minutes.

Putting it together
1. Place small portions of bread pudding in single serving bowls.
2. Spread the strawberry compote over the pudding and season with pista.(chocolate sauce could be a nice variation for the topping.)

Enjoy the delicious pudding warm or cold.