Posts

French Toast Bake (Iron Chef Mom: Eggs)

/11 Comments/in , /by

I’m thinking it had to be more than 20 years ago when I walked into Great Harvest Bakery on S. Main in Ann Arbor, MI.  I worked at the other end of the “mall” in the deli of a grocery store.  Glamorous no–on the verge of poor yes . . . but I was never hungry.  (and my friend Ken supplied me with as many lattes as I could drink!)  Oh, how I ramble . . . when I walked into Great Harvest it smelled like home.  When I was growing up it was my job to make the bread each week–5 loaves.  I still have a love/hate relationship with bread . . .

Great Harvest had bread, butter, jams and jellies . . . and recipes.  I love recipes–but I don’t collect them exactly.  I make them and if I like it . . . I keep it–if I don’t–the recipe goes.  This is the Great Harvest French Bread Recipe.

One more quick story–when we lived in Michigan, I made French Toast Bake often.  I loved making it for my nephews.  But then we moved . . . no Great Harvest here.  I painfully tried different breads . . . nothing compared.  So that last time I was in Michigan–I ordered 20 loaves of bread.  I didn’t really realize how much room that would take up in an already full van or how much room it would take up in the freezer.  Opps.  I make FTB once a month now . . . and that is the best Sunday morning of the month.

the kids love to help out!

the kids love to help out!

making it organic and frugal

making it organic and frugal

after I add the eggs mixture I pat it down (gently)

after I add the eggs mixture I pat it down (gently)

dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix (which I always keep on hand--because life is just better with warm buttered toast with cinnamon sugar)

Ready for the oven, dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mix (which I always keep on hand–because life is just better with warm buttered toast with cinnamon sugar)

 

the awesome crunchy topping . . . it is so good you really don't need syrup

the awesome crunchy topping . . . it is so good you really don’t need syrup.  I serve this with bananas and seasonal fruit.

This recipe is from Great Harvest Bread Company call them at 734-996-8890 if you want to order bread–they will send it!  Click here for the website and more recipes!  Had I known . . . it would have been a much different trip home.

[recipe]1 loaf Farmhouse white or cinnamon crunch bread (10 cups of bread)

8 eggs

3 cups of milk

4 tsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 tsp salt

Topping:

2 T. butter cubed

2 T. sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

Place bread cubes in a grease 13×9 baking dish.  In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla and salt.  Pour over bread.

Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.  Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

Dot with butter.  Mix sugar/cinnamon mix and sprinkle over the top.

Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  I uncover for the last 15 minutes to make a crunchy top.

It serves 6.[/recipe]

Organic tips:  this recipe can be completely organic.

Dairy free:  I have substituted Almond milk.  I liked it the kids did notice a difference.

Frugal tips:  Save the bag from the loaf of bread and use it to cover during the 8 hours.  I use old bread bags for plastic wrap.  My grocery store has organic eggs and organic milk 50% off.

I’m linking up with Iron Chef Mom and Frugal Fridays.

Lent, already?

/15 Comments/in /by

I can’t believe that this Wednesday is Ash Wednesday!  How did this happen?  I get it–I really do understand how time keeps marching on but . . . I don’t always feel a sense of accomplishment that comes with time marching on.

I digress.

So these are my Meatless Lenten Meals.

  1. Pasta (or Polenta made in the rice cooker) with Red Sauce with veggies, garlic bread and salad.
  2. Homemade Pizza–I have the kids make their own pizza–that way they get the veggies they enjoy.
  3. Meatless Chili–this is really bean soup–I make it like a traditional chili or use black beans and sweet potatoes.
  4. Breakfast for dinner–French Toast Bake, Quiche, or scrabbled eggs/hashbrowns, pancakes with fruit.
  5. Baked Potato Bar–sour cream, leftover meatless chili, cheese, broccoli, roasted veggies.
  6. Tacos with refried beans, tomatoes, cheese, lettuce with rice.
  7. Macaroni and Cheese in the crockpot.
  8. Soup in a mini bread bowl (roll)–I made my recipe for chicken pot pie and serve it in a roll–it can be from the deli or the frozen type–I’ve used both with success.

Do you eat a meatless meal during Lent?  If you have a favorite could you please share it in the comments?

Be Blessed.

I’m linking up with Craftastic Party, motivation monday, create with joy, mindful mothering, and with Ann, The Better Mom, Rediscovering Domesticity.

Merry Christmas

/4 Comments/in /by

As I was downloading pictures from last night and tonight . . . I thought I would come here and share a little bit of our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Christmas Eve is spent going to 4 o’clock Mass–I wanted a quick meal that I knew everyone would like–so two different kinds of pasta, homemade red sauce, salad, and meatballs!

meatballs–a new family tradition?

no one ate the salad . . . but it looks pretty! We will eat it Christmas night.

pasta and fresh bread . . .Christmas morning was French Toast Bake . . . I forgot to serve it with bananas . . .

I love this recipe! I’m still searching for the “best” bread for this recipe–since I do not have a Great Harvest near me anymore.

so yummy!

Dinner!

We had Honey Baked Ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, baked apples, cranberry sauce, stuffing, pineapple . . .

and for dessert we had a cookie tray!

lots of baking here! and some from Mrs. Brown

I am blessed.  I have an awesome husband who makes me laugh each day.  I have wonderful kids who have taught me the true meaning of love.  I have friends who drop off things in my mailbox.  I feel loved by so many–and that is a wonderful gift.

Be Blessed.  I pray for each person reading this–that they might see the light of this season shining within themselves.