Herbed French Toast Food

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.

SAVORY, HERBED GRILLED CHEESE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• 1. In a casserole dish, combine the buttermilk, beaten eggs, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano and cayenne pepper.
• 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk the softened butter, then fold in the grated cheese. Divide into four equal parts and spread on toast. Cover with an additional slice.
• 3. Preheat a non-stick skillet over medium high heat.
• 4. Dredge each sandwich in the batter, coating each side. Place in skillet and brown top and bottom and the cheese is melted; about 4 to 5 minutes per side.
• 5. Serve with a beer and a steaming hot bowl of your favorite tomato soup. Enjoy!

HERBED FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat.
• Stir together all ingredients except bread.
• Cut bread into 1-inch slices. Spread herb mixture on cut sides of bread. Reassemble loaf. Wrap in piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil; seal securely.
• Grill uncovered about 4 inches from medium heat 15 to 20 minutes or until hot. Baking Directions: Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare bread and wrap in foil as directed. Bake about 20 minutes or until hot.

HERBED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a shallow mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Blend in the sour cream, mustard, dill weed and Italian seasoning.
• Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture and let soak for 10 seconds.
• On a large griddle or fry pan, melt the butter over medium heat; cook the bread in the melted butter for 2-3 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown.
• Turn the bread and top each with stewed tomatoes, then a slice of cheese, then chopped chives; cook for three minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the tomatoes are warm.
• Garnish with a dollop of sour cream and Dijon mustard mixed together and serve immediately.

HERB TOASTS

Steps:

• Slice a baguette in half crosswise, then cut each half lengthwise into 4 sticks. Cook 3 tablespoons minced red onion in 4 tablespoons butter until soft. Season with salt and pepper and add 1/4 cup minced mixed herbs. Brush onto the bread and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake at 400 degrees until golden, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Photograph By Antonis Achilleos

HERBED GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the bread, stir together the butter, mashed garlic, and herbs in a small
• bowl and season with salt and pepper. Tear open the loaf of bread
• lengthwise, spread the herb-garlic mixture over both halves and sprinkle with a little olive oil. Bake for 15 minutes.

FLAVORFUL HERB BREAD

Steps:

• In a bread machine pan, place all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or flour if needed).

FOUGASSE

Steps:

• Pour water into a large bowl. Sprinkle yeast into water, and let it stand undisturbed until dissolved. Stir in 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon herbs, sea salt, and 2 tablespoons oil until well blended. Mix in the flour, 1 cup at a time until a thick and somewhat sticky dough forms.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic. Form into a ball, and place into an oiled bowl. Flip the dough to coat the surface. Cover the bowl with a clean dishtowel, and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch dough down, and divide in half. Shape into an irregular ovals, about 1 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle cornmeal over 2 baking sheets; transfer dough to pans. Brush each loaf with olive oil, and sprinkle the remaining herbs on top. Make several slashes in the bread, cutting through the dough with a knife. Cover the loaves with clean dishtowels. Let rise again until the dough begins to rise again, about 20 minutes.
• Place baking sheets into a preheated 450 degree F (220 degree C) oven. Quickly splash a small amount of water onto the floor of your oven to create steam, and close the oven door. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes.

HERB TOAST

Steps:

• Cream the butter and mix in the herbs and parsley.
• Spread butter on individual slices of bread.
• Bread can also be cut into triangles, thin strips or different shapes with a cookie cutter.
• Place the bread slices on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 250° oven for 1 hour.
• The toast should be nicely browned before removing from the oven.
• Serve on a platter garnished with water cress or parsley sprigs.
• Serve with soup and/or salad.