Preparation / Directions:
Remove crusts from bread. Cover bread slices with paper towels and let stand overnight.
Custard: in a heavy medium saucepan combine three egg yolks, light cream, sugar and salt. Cook and stir over medium heat. Continue cooking until mixture coats a metal spoon. Remove from heat; cool at once by setting saucepan in a sink of ice water and stirring for 1-2 minutes. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Cover surface with clear plastic wrap.
In small bowl combine raisins. Place cherries in another bowl. Heat 3/4 cup sherry till warm. Pour 2/3 cup sherry over cherries. Set aside. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes (about 9 cups). In a bowl, fold bread into custard, until coated. Grease a 6 1/2 cup tower mold (without tube). Drain raisins and cherries, reserving sherry.
Arrange 1/4 of cherries in bottom of the mold, sprinkle 1/3 cup raisins into the mold. Add 1/4 of bread cube mixture. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons reserved sherry. Repeat layers three times, arranging cherries and raisins near edges of the mold. Lightly press last layer with back of spoon. Pour remaining reserved sherry over all. Cover mold tightly with foil. Set mold in cooker - for a 5-6qt cooker, pour 1 1/2 cups water around mold (for a 3 1/2 - 4 qt cooker use 1 cup water). Cover, cook on low 5 1/2 hours or until pudding springs back when touched.
Meanwhile make the sherry sauce: in a mixing bowl combine 2 egg yolks, powdered sugar, t tablespoons sherry and 1/4 teaspoons vanilla. In small bowl, beat whipping cream until small peaks form. Gently fold whip cream into egg yolk mixture. Cover and chill until serving time. Remove mold from cooker, let stand 10 minutes. Carefully unmold to serving platter. Serve warm with sherry sauce.
Alternative: Remove pudding from mold, cover and chill. To serve, return pudding to same mold. Cover with foil, place in cooker. Pour 1 1/2 cup water around mold. Cover, cook on high for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until warm. Let stand 10 minutes, unmold and serve with sauce.
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