Saturday 17 October 2015

French Toast Indulgence

As much as I like to get out and about, it's been ages since I had a day at the weekend with nothing planned, to do with as I pleased. No must-do shopping, no urgent housework, no big evening outing.

So I started with a lie-in. Not something I'm prone to do (although it does have a tendency to happen when I don't intend it to...), but it was thoroughly enjoyed. And how better to follow up a lazy lie-in than with an indulgent brunch?

One of my favourite things to throw together when hungry and not hugely concerned about being healthy, is french toast. It's soft, gooey warmth is always a winner, especially on a cold morning with a cup of white tea. That's white tea leaves, not black tea with milk!

Not overly difficult to make, and adaptable to most toppings, you only have to rely on a few cupboard essentials to throw it all together. I pour/measure freehand when making these, so please forgive the lack of measurements.

First, crack eggs into a bowl. Use 1 egg per 2 slices of bread if using large eggs, if in doubt do this, then pop an extra into the bowl just to be safe. Pour in a good glug of semi-skimmed milk.


Then add a healthy dose of ground cinnamon and about 1/2 - 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Anyone who doesn't like cinnamon or vanilla, feel free to experiment with a favoured spice or flavour. Nutmeg is another personal favourite of mine.


Take 2 slices of slightly stale bread per person, and thoroughly coat in the mixture. Using stale bread ensures that it will retain its shape and not fall apart.


Heat some butter in a large frying pan. Once the butter is sizzling, place 1 or 2 slices of your bread into the pan. If cooking for more than 1 person, place the slices into an oven-proof dish and place into a pre-heated oven. This process doesn't take long so there's no fear of them drying out.


When all cooked, stack onto a plate, sprinkle with icing sugar and maple syrup. Enjoy!


Golden syrup is another popular choice in my house. If you want a healthier alternative, top with fresh fruit and yoghurt, or drizzle with honey and sprinkle some chia seeds and almonds. The world is your oyster.

Apart from eating my bodyweight in french toast, I indulged in not one, but 2 films. Ah the benefits of an Unlimited Card!

First up was Crimson Peak. I'm a huge fan of Guillermo del Toro and Tom Hiddleston so this was a must. It's a new take on an old genre, paying homage to the gothic romance, and I have to say it's really well done. A great film, and perfect with Halloween coming up.

A glass of red at the local pub broke things up, then it was off to see another del Toro, this time Benicio, in Sicario. Based on the USA government's war on mexican drug cartels, it's a deep thinker. Possibly a little too deep for Saturday night fodder, but a good film none-the-less. Emily Blunt was her usual brilliant self, but del Toro steals the show.

It's been lovely to have a day to really indulge in things that I love, with nothing else threatening to occupy my time. And with Apple Day to look forward to tomorrow, it is just looking to get better and better! Now I'm home, and it'll be a cup of tea and a good book to end a lovely day on an even lovelier note.

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