Stuffed French Toast

Yesterday I slept through breakfast straight into the afternoon which really only disappointed me in that I had planned to make some pretty exciting French toast! However, as everyone knows, breakfast food is nommy at ANY time of day! So I decided that tea time would be my breakfast, and around 3:00 I began this mouth-watering recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens 30 minute meals cookbook.

Ingredients
1/2 cup cream cheese
2 Tbsp strawberry or apricot spreadable fruit (I used apricot preserves.)
1 loaf of French bread, cut into approx. 8-1" slices
2 egg whites
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp apple pie spice (I just used allspice.)
1/2 cup strawberry or apricot spreadable fruit

Instructions
1. In a small bowl combine cream cheese and the 2 Tbsp spreadable fruit.

2. Using a serrated knife, form a pocket in each bread slice by making a horizontal cut halfway between the top and bottom of the crust edge, slicing not quite all the way through. Scrape out a little of the bread around your cut to make room for more filling!

French bread is beautiful!

3. Fill each pocket with the cream cheese mixture, using it all up.

4. In a small bowl beat together egg whites, egg, milk, vanilla, and apple pie spice.

5. Lightly coat an unheated nonstick griddle with cooking spray. Heat griddle over medium heat. Using tongs, dip stuffed bread slices into egg mixture, turning to coat both sides. Place bread slices on hot griddle. Cook about 3 minutes or until golden brown on both sides.

6. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan heat the 1/2 cup spreadable fruit until melted, stirring frequently.

7. Serve melted fruit over French toast and enjoy your beautiful creation!

What pairs better with breakfast or an afternoon snack than coffee? And since it's summer, who drinks their coffee hot? No one! We all drink it iced!

Remember to brew your iced coffee at double strength since you'll be diluting it by pouring it over ice. I used my French press this afternoon (we alternate between our press and drip coffee maker) because it results in a more full-bodied and flavorful coffee that is perfect for enjoying over ice!

As you can see, a little double strength coffee goes a long way! I used 4 flattened Tbsp of ground coffee for one cup of hot water in the press. Then I poured the hot coffee over a glass-full of ice, stirred in a Tbsp of vanilla flavoring (not extract) and topped it off with about an inch of milk

French press iced coffee with stuffed French toast...VERY nommy!

Unsure of what to do with your leftover yolks? Make mayo!
Then, since you have to use it within a couple of days, make these!