Posted in Breakfast

For Sunday Brunch: Baked Stuffed French Toast

Baked Stuffed French Toast

20120711-014402.jpg

Nonstick cooking spray
8 2-inch slices French bread
¼ cup low-fat yogurt-based spread or butter, softened
¼ cup (2 ounces) nonfat cream cheese
½ cup raspberry jam
1 ½ cups nonfat egg substitute
1 cup nonfat milk
½ cup granulated sugar
3 teaspoon (divided) ground cinnamon
1 cup sliced almonds
¼ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons plus all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Prep Day: Spray one (three) 9 x 13-inch baking dish(es) with nonstick cooking spray.

Create a pocket in each slice of the bread by cutting a horizontal slit about halfway through each slice. Set aside. In a bowl, combine the spread, cream cheese, and jam and mix together. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the jam mixture onto each slice of bread and lay it in the prepared baking dish(es). Set aside. In a bowl, combine the egg substitute, milk, granulated sugar, and ½ of the cinnamon and stir to combine. Pour over the bread, dividing the mixture evenly among the three dishes if you are preparing three batches.

In another bowl, combine the almonds, brown sugar, oats, flour, remaining cinnamon, and vanilla and blend together with your hands until the mixture forms crumbs. Scatter the mixture over the bread, dividing it evenly among the three dishes if you are preparing a triple batch. If you are making breakfast today wait to add the topping until the egg is soaked up.

To Freeze: Cover with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before baking as directed above

Serve Day: Preheat the oven to 325 F. Let the dish sit on the counter for 30 minutes, until one-quarter of the egg mixture has soaked into the bread. Turn over and let the other side of the bread soak for 30 minutes. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour or until the egg mixture is no longer liquid and the toast is brown.

Or

Pan-grill it just like French toast by heating a griddle to medium-high heat, spraying with nonstick cooking spray, and browning each piece of bread for 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Posted in Side Dish

Side Dish’n’ Fridays: Sweet Potato Surprise Balls

20121002-134931.jpg

8 large sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
2 eggs
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
14 large marshmallows
3 cups corn flake crumbs

Prep Day: Mix together mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, butter, orange rid, brown sugar& vanilla.
Form into 14 large balls. Place in center of each ball 1 large marshmallow and cover it well with mashed-potato mixture. Roll ball in cornflake crumbs. Flash freeze and bag for freezer.

Serve Day: When ready to serve, defrost and bake at 400F in buttered baking dish for 10 minutes.

Adapted from food.com

Posted in Dessert

Tasty Treats: Peach Raspberry Pie

Peach Raspberry Pie

20121004-150807.jpg

12 graham crackers
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
10 tablespoons butter
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk
5 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
1 9-ounce contained frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 cups diced fresh peaches
1 cup fresh raspberries

Crush graham crackers into fine crumbs. Combine with brown sugar and melted butter. Divide between two 9-inch pie plates or into a 9 x 13-inch dish. Press on bottom and up the sides of the pie plates, or on the bottom of the 9 x 13-inch dish. See more details of making a graham cracker crust here.

Combine softened cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and 4 tablespoons lemon juice. Mix until smooth and creamy. Stir in the thawed whipped topping. Dice peaches and toss with remaining tablespoon of lemon juice. Add peaches and raspberries to cream cheese mixture. Stir gently. Stirring too much will break apart the raspberries. Pour over graham crust(s). Refrigerate for about 2 hours before serving or freeze up to a month.