Four Foods on Friday

#1. Brownies. From a box or from scratch?

I admit, I love the convenience of a box. :)

#2. Chicken noodle soup. Does it cure everything? Do you make it from scratch, from a can or from a package?

I've usually had it from a can. If I can stomach it, I prefer tomato soup with Saltine crackers. :)

#3. Red skin potato salad. Do you think the red skin provides flavor or color?

I don't eat potato salad because mayo does NOT get along with me. But I do like red potatoes!

#4. French toast. How do you make yours?

On a "normal" Saturday morning I beat a couple eggs with some milk, and I'll often add a little cinnamon, vanilla, or even maple syrup. Soak a couple slices of bread in the mixture and fry them on the stove top.

For special occasions, I make a baked French toast that is delicious! We call it "gourmet French toast" for fun. It has a crispy outside, but it's so warm and melt-in-your-mouth inside. I cannot find the original recipe I used our first married Christmas, but here's the one I used this year which is very similar. :)

INGREDIENTS

• 5 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 (1 pound) loaf French bread, cut diagonally in 1 inch slices

• 1/2 cup butter, melted
  
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 cup chopped pecans (I omitted this)
• (I add a couple shakes of cinnamon)

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream and vanilla. Dip bread slices into egg mixture and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Refrigerate overnight.
2. The next morning: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. In a small bowl, combine butter, sugar, maple syrup and pecans. Spoon mixture over bread.
4. Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 40 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

We have even saved the cooked left-overs in the fridge and had them the following weekend--tasted great! I have some in the freezer now too, and I'll let you know how those defrost. :) It's extra nice when you need something for a special day or group of people, because you make it ahead of time and just stick it in the oven on the day you need it!

Make Ahead French Toast from allrecipes.com