Yankee Bread Pudding

Recipe taken from Cooks.com: https://www.cooks.com/recipe/733j39yh/yankee-bread-pudding.html

1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 c. hot water
2 c. bread, diced (4 or 5 slices)
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. raisins (optional)

Combine condensed milk and hot water. Pour over bread and let stand until lukewarm. Stir in eggs, butter, salt and vanilla. Pour into greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. Sit in shallow pan of hot water. Drop raisins over top of pudding mixture. Bake at 350 degrees until a knife blade inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Serve hot or cold with cream, fruit or preserves. 8 servings.

Notes: Firm, dense, or stale bread works best.