Baked French Toast Casserole with Maple Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Dash salt
• Praline Topping, recipe follows
• Maple syrup

Directions

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:

• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

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Panettone French Toast

Ingredients

Syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 packed cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

French Toast:

• 1 (1-pound) panettone, paper removed
• 6 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
• Serving suggestion: powdered sugar and assorted fresh berries

Directions

For the syrup: In a medium saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil over high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil until the syrup reduces to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the cream and cinnamon. Keep the syrup warm over low heat until ready to serve. (The syrup can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Reheat before serving).

For the French toast: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Preheat a nonstick griddle or large nonstick saute pan over medium heat.

Using a serrated knife, remove the top from the panettone. Cut the bottom of the panettone in half crosswise. Cut each half into 4 equal pieces. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, and sugar until smooth. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter on the griddle. Working in batches, dip slices of panettone into the custard, turning to allow both sides to absorb the custard. Cook the soaked panettone slices until golden brown and firm to the touch, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and panettone slices.

Transfer the French toast to plates. Drizzle the cinnamon syrup over the French toast and place a dollop of mascarpone on top. Lightly dust with powdered sugar and serve with fresh berries.

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Lemon Blueberry Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon cake flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 heaping tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups evaporated milk (more if needed)
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced (more juice if lemon isn't very juicy)
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more softened for serving
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup blueberries
• Maple or pancake syrup, warmed, for serving

Directions

Heat a heavy skillet or grill over medium-low heat.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix the evaporated milk, lemon zest and juice. Allow to sit for 5 minutes, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix to combine.

Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients. Stir gently to combine. Stir in the melted butter. Splash in more evaporated milk if the mixture is overly thick. Stir in the blueberries.

Melt a little of the softened butter in the heated skillet. Drop the batter by 1/4 or 1/3 cup measures and fry the pancakes on both sides for a couple of minutes until golden.

Serve with more softened butter and warm syrup.

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Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy

Ingredients

Chicken Fried Steak:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3 pounds cube steak (tenderized round steak that's been extra tenderized)
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon butter

Gravy:

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 to 4 cups whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Mashed potatoes, for serving

Directions

For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.

Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it's sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it's ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.

After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.

For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.

Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.

Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes. Pour gravy over the whole shebang!

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Egg-in-a-Hole

Ingredients

• 1 slice of your favorite kind of bread
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 egg
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, press a hole in the center of the slice of bread.

Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt in the butter. When the butter is all spread out, place the piece of bread in the skillet and crack the egg straight into the center of the hole.

Cook until the egg sets a bit on the bottom, 30 to 45 seconds. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper. After about a minute, flip it over with a spatula and salt and pepper the other side.

Move the whole piece of toast around the skillet, soaking up all of the glorious butter. Let it cook until the yolk feels soft. Here's the key: golden brown toast, white (not brown/burned) whites, soft unbroken yolk. Perfect.

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Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients

Dough:

• 1 quart whole milk
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 packages active dry yeast (4 1/2 teaspoons)
• 9 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
• 1 scant teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon salt

Filling:

• 2 cups melted butter, plus more as needed
• 1/4 cup ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
• 2 cups sugar, plus more as needed

Maple Icing:

• 2 pounds powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, melted
• 1/4 cup strongly brewed coffee
• Dash of salt
• 1 tablespoon maple flavoring or maple extract

Directions

For the dough: Heat the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat to just below a boil. Set aside and cool to warm. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.

Add 8 cups of the flour. Stir until just combined, and then cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the towel and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt and the remaining 1 cup flour. Stir thoroughly to combine. Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl. (The dough is easier to work with if it's been chilled for at least an hour or so beforehand.)

To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan. On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 by 10 inches. The dough should be rolled very thin.

For the filling: Pour 3/4 cup to 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough. Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly. Generously sprinkle half of the ground cinnamon and 1 cup of the sugar over the butter. Don't be afraid to drizzle on more butter or more sugar! Gooey is the goal.

Now, beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly towards you. Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight. Don't worry if the filling oozes as you work; that just means the rolls are going to be divine. When you reach the end, pinch the seam together and flip the roll so that the seam is face down. When you're finished, you'll wind up with one long buttery, cinnamony, sugary, gooey log.

Slip a cutting board underneath the roll and, with a sharp knife, make 1/2-inch slices. One "log" will produce 20 to 25 rolls. Pour a couple of teaspoons of melted butter into disposable foil cake pans and swirl to coat. Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd. (Each pan will hold 7 to 9 rolls.)

Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cover all the pans with a kitchen towel and set aside to rise on the countertop for at least 20 minutes before baking.

Remove the towel and bake until golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Don't allow the rolls to become overly brown.

While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee and salt. Splash in the maple flavoring. Whisk until very smooth. Taste and add in more maple, sugar, butter or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency. The icing should be somewhat thick but still very pourable.

Remove the pans from the oven. Immediately drizzle the icing over the top. Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top. As they sit, the rolls will absorb some of the icing's moisture and flavor. They only get better with time... not that they last for more than a few seconds. Make them for a friend today! It'll seal the relationship for life. I promise.

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Monday Finds: Honey & Jam Photography

It has been really cold lately. And because I'm a Southern girl, cold to me is like any temperature below 40 F. Austin has been pretty warm for the winter, but all of a sudden the weekends have been freezing and I've had to bust out the winter coats and I find myself drinking hot tea, coffee, apple cider, and really anything warm. I am not a coffee drinker. Okay, I'll correct myself in that I'm not MUCH of a coffee drinker. I don't think a cup of cream with a couple spoonfuls of coffee really count for a cup of coffee. But yeah...

I've been browsing Etsy to find great items that remind me of being warm, and I found Honey & Jam Photography.  Have you seen Hannah's work? It's beautiful! And it makes me feel all warm and cozy.

Plus, she shares all her recipes online!! I think I'm going to pick up baking just because all her goodies look SOOOO delicious!

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Days on the farm

I've been at my parent's farm for a couple of weeks now. It has been very recuperative to say the least, though the quiet and lack of ...people..does get to me sometimes! Here's a glimpse of my days.

Working at home means I'm able to eat really well. My favorite breakfast is plain greek yogurt, low fat granola, almonds, blueberries, and a spoonful of raspberry jam. MMMM

After about 5 years and all 6 of us trying, I finally figured out how to get my parent's cappuccino machine to work! I have a lot of practicing to get the foam just right. The buddha likes!

My mom sells sunflowers by the stem at the farmers market, and whatever doesn't sell, we get to keep. I made this bouquet for her - my stab at flower arranging. Tips and tricks are welcome!

Pappy the clydesdale and I at the Maryland State Fair. I love the texture of his mane, and what a teddy bear!

This sweet baby cow was born just 2 hours before this photo was taken. I felt kinda bad for the little guy out on display and everything. That little nose!

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Breakfast: Day 1 of Who-Knows-How-Many

I rarely eat breakfast --which is weird considering I'm a fitness instructor, and I prescribe that regime. So I figured I would start with eggs. Then I might venture into more fancy things like bagels, muffins, and things. :)

Day 1: Spinach Fried Eggs

Click image for more details on my flickr.

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