French Toast Casserole


French toast casserole

This is a scrumptious and special breakfast casserole that can be made ahead.This French toast casserole has a crunchy top with custardy bread filling.You can simply cover the bread in casserole dish with plastic wrap,and whisk all the ingredients for the custard then cover and refrigerate until morning.Or if you like it to be pudding like ,you can pour the custard over bread and refrigerate overnight. I made this casserole last week for sisters brunch, and it was a big hit.I served it with delicious blackberry sauce,and that made it even more special.Mmmmmm!!!

Ingredients:

1 challah bread*

10 eggs

1/3 cup powdered sugar

2 cups heavy whipping cream**

2 cups milk**

1 1/2 zested and juice squeezed

3 tablespoons orange liqueur (optional,but very good)

1/4 teaspoon salt

sliced almonds

* You can use french bread or any other lightly sweetened specialty bread.

** Or 4 cups half and half

 

Blackberry Sauce:

2 cups blackberries

1/2 cup turbinado sugar ( light brown sugar or regular white is fine too)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon orange liqueur (optional)

1/2 cup water*

orange zest( about 1/2 orange)

 

Note: If you like your sauce to be thicker, add 1 teaspoon cornstarch to water.

*You can mix  1/4 cup water + 1/4 cup orange juice and reduce the amount sugar.

 

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice bread in to large chunks and arrange all pieces of bread in the glass baking dish or casserole dish.Sprinkle  a little of turbinado sugar over the top of bread.

In a mixing bowl,whisk eggs with salt.Add cream,milk,sugar,orange zest,orange juice,and orange liqueuer. Whisk to incorporate all the ingredients.

Pour the custard mixture over bread.Sprinkle sliced almonds over the bread.

Cover with foil and bake covered for about 30-35 minutes.Remove foil and continue to bake until the top is light golden brown ( about another 25-30 minutes).When ready to serve, dust with powdered sugar and add more almonds if desired. Serve with warm maple sauce,homemade syrup with cinnamon,or blackberry sauce.

Blackberry sauce directions:

Place blackberry in a blender.Pulse until well blended.Press the sauce through fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds.Add sugar,orange zest,cinnamon,water/orange juice blackberries.

Heat the sauce in a sauce pan on medium heat.Let it simmer for about 3-5 minutes.Whisk in orange liqueuer.

French toast casserole-4

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:100]



Egg Benedict


egg benedict

Eggs Benedict is a fancy American breakfast dish that will make your breakfast elegant.This dish is very impressive and delicious;mainly consisting of toasted egg muffins,canadian bacon,poached egg and topped with creamy hollandaise sauce.I gave a little twist by using sautéed fingerling potatoes and smoked salmon.Results are amazing! The sauce is very easy to make and comes out perfect every time.

 

Makes 4 Egg Benedict

Ingredients:

2 cups sliced fingerling potatoes or

2 English muffins sliced in half and toasted

4 eggs
1/4 red onion or green onion thinly diced
Thin slices of smoked salmon,canadian bacon or ham
1 tablespoon white vinegar

oil for sautéing potatoes

Hollandaise sauce(adapted from Simply Recipes):

  • 1 stick (1/2 cup)unsalted butter
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice ( I used 3,depends how lemony you want it to be)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Dash of cayenne
  • hot boiling water if needed

Directions:
In a small saucepan melt the butter on low heat.(don’t let it boil)
Using a blender mix egg yolks,lemon juice,salt and cayenne.

Blend for about 20-30 seconds.
With blender still working, gradually and slowly add butter.

Blend until all butter is well combined.
The sauce supposed to be lemony, buttery and lightly salted. I added about 1/4 cup of hot water to make it a little thinner.

Bring a water to  a boil in a medium saucepan or pot.Add vinegar. Turn the heat down to low and add the eggs one at a time.Cook for about 3-4 minutes.

Heat oil in a skillet on med-high heat.Season potatoes with salt and add potatoes to the skillet.Sauté until nicely browned.

Arrange sliced smoked salmon,canadian bacon or ham and sautéed potatoes on a serving plate.Sprinkle green onions,place egg on top and pour hollandaise sauce over the egg.Sprinkle with cayenne pepper or paprika.

OR

Place toasted English muffin on a plate. Sprinkle with onions, and add a slice of smoked salmon. Top it with egg and pour hollandaise sauce over the egg. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper or paprika.

egg benedict