Desserts - Pear Bread Pudding (Serves 4)

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 t unsalted butter
1/4 t salt
4 eggs
5 slices soft whole-wheat bread, each cut in half
2 pears, peeled, cored, cut into eighths
1 t cinnamon
1/4 pound thinly sliced Cheddar
Heat oven to 375F.  Butter a 9" square pan.  In a saucepan, heat milk through salt until small bubbles form.  In a bowl, whisk tog eggs, then add warm milk mist in a slow stream, whisking constantly.  Layer pan with bread, top with pears.  Pous milk-egg mitx into pan, sprinkle with cinnamon.  Bake until golden, about 35 mins.  Top with Cheddar, if desired, and bake until cheese is melted, 5-10 mins.  Serve warm.