Mushroom Pain Perdu Food

PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• Combine the sliced strawberries, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the orange liqueur in a small bowl and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, honey, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, the vanilla, orange zest, and salt. Slice the bread in 3/4-inch slices. Pour the egg mixture into a large shallow plate and soak a few slices of bread for 4 minutes, turning once.
• Heat 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil in a very large saute pan over medium heat. Take each slice of bread from the egg mixture, dip one side in the toasted almonds, and place in the saute pan, almond side down. (While you're cooking each batch, add more bread to the egg mixture to soak.) Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked bread on a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven. Wipe out the pan with a dry paper towel, add more butter and oil, and continue to fry the remaining soaked bread until they're all cooked. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve hot with the strawberries.

MUSHROOM PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• Butter the insert of a large slow cooker.
• In a large skillet, melt the 3 T butter over medium heat.
• Add the mushrooms and onion and cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms juices evaporate and the mushrooms are golden, about 10 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs until blended.
• Beat in the milk, Parmesan, nutmeg, ½ teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the mushrooms.
• Place the bread cubes in a large bowl.
• Pour the mixture over the bread cubes and stir well.
• Scrape the mixture into the slow cooker.
• Press the bread cubes down into the liquid.
• Sprinkle with the Gruyere.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Serve hot, scooping it out of the dish.

PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• Place the bread in a large bowl and set aside.
• Whisk together the cream, vanilla sugar, brandy, salt and eggs (or use a blender). Pour over the bread. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then turn the bread over to ensure proper absorption. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Heat large oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat and add the butter. Sprinkle some flour and some vanilla sugar on top of the bread slices. When the foam from the butter subsides, put the soaked bread in the pan and cook on one side, about 5 minutes. Flip the bread and place the pan in the oven until cooked through and custardy in the middle, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Serve with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

WILD MUSHROOMS, HARICOT VERT, AND SHALLOT SAUTé

Steps:

• Melt 1/4 cup butter in large pot over high heat. Add shallots and thyme; sauté until shallots begin to brown, about 4 minutes. Add all mushrooms; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sauté until juices evaporate, about 10 minutes. Add Madeira; toss until evaporated, about 1 minute. Set aside.
• Cook haricots verts in medium pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Let stand until ready to use, up to 2 hours.
• Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter to mushrooms in pot. Add haricots verts. Toss over medium-high heat until butter melts and vegetables are heated through, adding broth by tablespoonfuls if mixture is dry, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer vegetables to bowl and serve.

BACON AND GRUYERE PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• Butter the insert of a large slow cooker.
• In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp and browned.
• Transfer to paper towels to drain; crumble the bacon.
• Pour off all but 1 T of the fat from the skillet.
• Add the shallots and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs until blended.
• Beat in the milk, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in the bacon, shallots, and Parmesan.
• Place the bread cubes in a large bowl.
• Pour the mixture over the bread cubes and stir well.
• Scrape the mixture into the slow cooker.
• Press the bread cubes down into the liquid; sprinkle with the Gruyere.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 ½ to 2 hours, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Serve hot, scooping it out of the dish.

PAIN PERDU I

Steps:

• Cut the bread and place on a wire rack to dry out a little as you prepare the batter.
• Whisk the egg to blend. Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a saucepan or on the stovetop and allow to cool slightly. Whisk the sugar, salt and spices into the egg. When the butter has cooled slightly, slowly drizzle it in to the egg, whisking all the time. A little at a time, add the flour to the egg mixture to make a smooth thick paste. After it is all added, slowly blend in the milk and finally the vanilla. Whisk until just smooth and set aside.
• Heat the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip a slice of the bread in the batter and allow to soak for 30 seconds, no more. Remove from the batter and allow the excess to drip off, back into the bowl. Place the battered slice in the skillet. Repeat with the remaining slices. Cook until golden on one side and then flip to brown the other. Serve immediately--a fresh squeeze of lemon juice and a good dusting of powdered sugar is traditional.