I’m a really big fan of brunch. Something about the combination of savory and sweet on the same plate really does it for me. I love when my maple syrup runs over everything else on the plate. Oh, it tastes so good. The other nice idea about brunch is that you were able to sleep in and this if your first meal of the day. Now, with two little ones, the latter is never a reality in my life however, on Mother’s Day, mommy gets to stay in bed while daddy and the girls watch cartoons until it’s time to eat.
I don’t usually cook on Mother’s Day. Instead, we go to a restaurant for Mother’s Day Brunch where I can enjoy sipping mimosas and reflect on how amazing it is to have the two best little girls in the world. I also get to think about how I’m so fortunate to have my mother as a constant in my life. She’s the best mom in the world, hands down.
But, when it’s not Mom Day, we do have a standing tradition in our house that on Sunday morning, once everyone is finally up and at ‘em, I make a pretty big brunch. The kids and my husband (the biggest kid in my house) love sweet food to start the day so pancakes, waffles and french toast are on always on the request list. I make a million different variations because as you might now know, I like to be creative with my culinary concoctions.
However, when you don’t have a kitchen staff and only two hands to work with (sometimes one if Veronica is on the hip) I have to find a way to make everything at once and on the table at the same time. So, while I’m at the cook top frying, it’s good to have a few items that go in the oven. Banana bread, frittata and bacon go great in the oven and so does my Strawberry French Toast. The best part about it is that if you are a real superstar, you can make it the night before and throw it in the oven in the a.m. with your eyes still half closed.
This post is dedicated to all the amazing mommies out there that sacrifice their looks, sleep and anything else that keeps their children happy, healthy and most of all, well fed.
Strawberry filled French Toast
Sliced Bread, one loaf (I really love Challah bread)
5 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
Butter or PAM to grease the pan
Filling:
3 cup Strawberries
Juice of ½ lemon
½ c sugar
8 oz Whipped Cream Cheese
Topping
1 cup sliced almonds
½ sifted confectioners’ sugar
To make the French toast, mix the eggs with all the other ingredients in a shallow pan, dip each piece, forward and back. In a greased baking pan, line the bottom with ½ the wet slices. Put the filling in the middle and top with the remaining ½ loaf of saturated bread. Sprinkle the sliced almonds and sugar on top.
To make the filling, slice the strawberries and mix with lemon juice and sugar. This is called macerating. Once the strawberries and macerated, let it sit while you start dipping ½ the bread. Then, mix it with the cream cheese. It will look like strawberry cream cheese and tastes great on bagels too! Pour it over the bottom layer of bread (be careful, your mouth will be watering). Cover with the other bread and the topping.
Place in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. It’s ready when it’s puffed, golden brown and…heavenly. It tastes great heated up or right out of the fridge when no one is looking…
