1/2 lb. croissants (2 or 3)
About 1/2 C. (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, at room temperature
2 packages (3 oz. each) Neufchatel cheese, at room temperature
1 1/4 C. maple syrup
10 large eggs
3 C. lowfat milk
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 T. chopped pecans
Powdered sugar
Raspberries or edible flowers, such as rose petals or nasturtiums, rinsed and drained, optional

Tear croissants into 1/2-inch chunks. Whirl in a food processor until coarsely chopped, or chop with a knife. Butter 8 soufflé dishes (1- to 1 1/4-C. size) and fill equally with croissant pieces. In a food processor, combine Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 C. butter, and 1/4 C. maple syrup; whirl until blended. (Or, in a bowl, beat with a mixer until smoothly blended.) Drop equal portions into each soufflé dish. In a bowl, beat eggs to blend with 1/2 C. maple syrup and the milk. Pour equally into each soufflé dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and chill at least 8 hours or up to 1 day. Set dishes slightly apart in a 10- by 15- inch pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 350° oven until pudding-soufflés are richly browned and centers barely jiggle when gently shaken, 45 to 50 minutes. About 5 minutes before pudding-soufflés finish baking, in a 1- to 1 1/2 quart pan over medium-high heat, frequently stir remaining 1/2 C. maple syrup until hot. Sprinkle pudding-soufflés with pecans, dust with powdered sugar, garnish with berries or flowers, and add hot syrup to taste.