Toastedcreamcheeseandapplepockets Recipes

QUICK AND EASY FRENCH TOAST FOR TWO

Steps:

• In a large shallow bowl, whisk the egg and milk until slightly frothy.
• Mix in the brown sugar, then follow with the cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Place a piece of bread into the mixture and allow it to soak on each side. While the bread is soaking, heat the oil in a nonstick pan.
• After 30 seconds on each side in the egg mixture, place the bread into the pan and cook evenly on both sides, until golden to dark brown on each side and the egg mixture does not run from the toast when pressed.
• Repeat steps 3-4 for all your slices of bread or until the mixture runs out.
• If desired, serve your French Toast warm and cut into trangles with the maple syrup, powered sugar, and fruit. Enjoy!

CREAMY CHICKEN TOAST

Steps:

• Season chicken with salt.
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until outside firms up and inside is still medium-rare, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and let cool.
• Reduce heat to medium. Combine green onions, red bell pepper, and jalapeno in the skillet. Add a pinch of salt. Cook and stir until softened, about 5 minutes. Increase heat to high. Pour in chicken broth. Stir until liquid is mostly evaporated. Stir in cream. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook until sauce is reduced to desired thickness, 6 to 10 minutes.
• Cut chicken into evenly sized cubes. Add chicken, accumulated juices, and creme fraiche to the sauce. Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center, 3 to 7 minutes more. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Turn off heat. Stir in tarragon and spoon chicken and sauce over toast.

APPLE POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Defrost puff pastry sheet.
• Cover the sheet with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.
• Mix cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
• Add apples and stir to coat with sugar and spice mixture.
• Cut pastry into 8 squares.
• Place apples in 4 of pastry squares.
• Dot apples with melted butter.
• Place remaining pastry squares on top of apples and press edges together to seal with a fork.
• May use water to seal edges.
• Brush top of pastry with beaten eggs with a pastry brush.
• Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

TOASTS WITH CREAM CHEESE AND FRUIT

Steps:

• In a toaster oven or under the broiler, lightly toast bread on both sides.
• Layer half of cream-cheese spread on each piece of toast; top with strawberry jam and two or three slices banana.

THE BEST FRENCH TOAST I'VE EVER MADE

Steps:

• Choose your bread. If you like very thick french toast (you should try it at least once!), find a local bakery and get yourself a loaf of challah or brioche bread (buy a day-old loaf if they have it.) I don't like using French bread or the regular loaves you find in the deli at the grocery store; the crusts turn out too chewy. You want a nice soft edge. If you can't get to a bakery, head to the grocery store and buy the thickest and softest white bread you can find. (3/4 inch or thicker.) Texas toast is great. I like to use the Artesano brand of bread; they sell a pre-sliced brioche loaf that is pretty legit. But their white bread is also nice and soft. See photos.
• Slice your bread with a serrated knife if you are working with a whole loaf. See photos. I like my slices to be about 1 and 1/4 inch thick, which feels a little ridiculous, but trust me. You can even go up to 2 inches if you're feeling wild. Don't slice thinner than 3/4 inch.
• Set your bread aside, spread out so that it gets a little dried out. Day old bread is great for French toast. In France, they call this dish "Lost Bread" because it's what you make when you have dried out bread to use up. (I experimented with toasting the bread first, but thought it dried out the finished product too much.)
• Make the egg mixture. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl,* whisk together 3 egg yolks, 1 and 1/2 cups heavy cream* or half & half, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg, if you like. Whisk until it is completely smooth and the cinnamon is well incorporated.
• Pour the mixture into a shallow dish like a pie plate, or an 8x8 inch pan. Place a slice of bread in the mixture and let it sit there for 10 to 20 seconds. How long you soak it depends on how thick your bread is. It should be soft when you touch it, but still hold itself together. Flip the bread and soak the other side. You can start cooking the French toast right away, or you can place the soaked bread on a baking sheet or plate while you finish soaking all of them.
• Cook the French toast: Heat an electric griddle or large 12 inch skillet over medium low heat. When it is hot, add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or any oil with a high smoke point.) Swirl it around until the pan is coated. Place the French toast on the pan with 1 to 2 inches in between each slice of bread. Cook on medium low heat for 3-5 minutes. The timing depends on your oven or griddle, so stick around and keep an eye on it.
• Caramelize. When the bottom of the first side is LIGHT brown (we are going to cook this side twice), sprinkle about a half tablespoon granulated sugar on the top (raw) side of the bread. Flip the toast, sugar side down, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes. (Be sure to swirl the pan so oil re-coats it, or add more butter/oil if necessary). Then, sprinkle another half tablespoon of sugar on the cooked side, and flip it over again so that it lightly caramelizes the first side.
• Keep your toast warm. Preheat your oven to the "keep warm" setting, about 170 degrees F. As you finish frying the toast, transfer each one to a wire cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Keep toast warm in the oven until ready to serve.
• I honestly don't even put maple syrup on caramelized French toast. I feel like it doesn't really need it, plus it makes the caramel edge not as crunchy. I like to eat it plain, or with a little jam. But maple syrup is really delicious if you are in the mood! A sprinkle of powdered sugar and a berry garnish never hurt either.
• Keep leftovers stored covered in the fridge. It will keep for 3-5 days. You can reheat leftovers in the microwave or the toaster. Or heat your oven to 350 and heat the toast all together on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, until the toast is warmed, about 5-10 minutes.

TOASTED OATMEAL

Steps:

• Melt butter or margarine in a small frying pan over medium/medium low heat.
• Add the oatmeal and stir so that it is evenly coated.
• Cook until the oatmeal starts turning golden brown and a little crunchy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add the brown sugar, again stirring well to coat the oatmeal.
• Cook 1 to 2 minutes more, until the brown sugar is completely melted and dispersed, and the oatmeal is very golden brown.
• Serve on top of yogurt, or with a small amount of milk or cream.

OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST I

Steps:

• Place half of the bread cubes into a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Scatter cream cheese over bread; sprinkle with blueberries. Place remaining bread cubes over the blueberries.
• In a large bowl, beat together eggs, maple syrup and milk. Pour egg mixture over bread cubes. Cover pan with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
• The next morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake, covered, for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm.