French Toast

Description

The concept of French toast is one that dates back thousands of years , as a way to make use of stale bread. The earliest recorded recipe of this dish dates back to Roman times, and in the subsequent centuries, variations of this dish arose throughout Europe. Some popular variations of this dish from the Old World include Spanish torrijas, Portuguese rabandas, French pain perdu, Danish arme rittere, UK and Irish eggy bread, Balkan prženice and German arme ritter. The common element that all variations of this recipe have is that they consist of bread, soaked in an egg and milk custard, that is then fried. The reason that this dish is called French toast in America isn’t entirely clear, as it is well-documented that this dish existed in other European cuisines prior to the founding of the United States. One theory is that this dish was popular among French immigrants to the American colonies, and was named after the community that popularized it. Another popular theory is that it is named after Joseph French, who by means of a grammatical error, advertised the dish as French Toast instead of French’s Toast. Irregardless, the dish gained popularity over time and remains one of the most ubiquitous breakfast dishes in the country today.

(Source: Food Republic)

Ingredients

(Makes 1 Serving)

• 3 slices Texas toast or thick sandwich bread

• 1 egg

• ½ cup heavy cream

• ½ cup milk

• 1 tbsp sugar

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

• ¼ tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter

• Maple syrup, for serving

• Salted butter, for serving

Preparation

In a baking dish or deep plate, whisk together the egg, heavy cream, milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Add the bread and allow to soak in the custard mixture, about one minute on each side.

Heat a nonstick or cast iron pan over medium high heat. Add the oil and butter. When the butter is melted, add the soaked bread and cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, adding more butter to the pan as necessary. The final result should be golden brown on the outside, but custardy on the inside. Serve hot with salted butter and maple syrup.

Notes

• French toast can be made with a variety of bread, such as brioche, challah, sandwich bread or baguette.

• Powdered sugar, fresh berries and/or whipped cream are also popular toppings for French toast.