Winner, Winner Chicken  Steak Dinner!!

The winner of our $50 Outback Steakhouse Giveaway is :

#60 Natalie V.  (contacted by email) –  Congratulations!

Breakfast is one of my favorites; especially during the holidays I love to enjoy family, friends, and good food in the morning. {This french toast is so good we like to add bacon and have it for dinner on those busy days when we don’t have that luxury.}  The  recipe comes from breakfast dishes at  the Sundance Ski Resort in Utah- it is reported to be one of Robert Redford’s favorites . . .  I have to concur- the blend of fresh apples and pure maple syrup is heavenly; served on french toast you’ve got breakfast bliss!

French Toast With Maple Apples

Ingredients:

2-3 tablespoons butter
2-3 Granny Smith apples (1 pound peeled, halved, cored and sliced 1/4 in thick)
3/4 cup pure maple syrup (you’ll want to splurge on the real stuff)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
3 large eggs
1 cup whipping cream (half and half or milk to lighten up)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
8 slices Texas Toast or 1 inch slices of Artisan Bread or Challah Bread
toasted pecans (optional, but highly recommended!)

Directions:

In a large skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter.  Add the apples and 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup and cook over high heat, stirring frequently, until softened and lightly caramelized, about 8 minutes.

Add the cinnamon and the remaining maple syrup and simmer for 1 minute; keep warm.

In a shallow dish mix the eggs with the cream (or milk), vanilla and nutmeg.  Add the bread, turn to coat and let soak for a minute.  Coat a hot skillet with butter and cook each slice of bread until golden brown.   Cut the bread on a diagonal and top with the maple apples and toasted pecans if desired.  Serve immediately.  Mmmmm . . . you’ll want to soak up every last drip!

recipe adapted from Food and Wine, January 2003