6 cups of day-old good quality bread, cut into small cubes or shredded
3/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup half and half cream (or any kind of cream)
2 large eggs, beaten (Reserve 1 tbsp. for filling)
1/3 cup sugar or to taste
Dash of cinnamon and/or vanilla extract
1 1⁄2 cups fruit (such as apples, dice or shredded)
1⁄4 cup raisins, cranberries or chopped nuts (if using raisins or dried cranberries, plump in warm water until soft and drain)
Filling Ingredients

1⁄4 to 1⁄2 cup creamy ricotta (not the hard variety)
1 tbsp sugar or to taste
Reserved 1 tbsp beaten egg
1 tbsp half and half cream
Apricot jam diluted with a teaspoon of water and heated until it turns to liquid for glaze (Optional)