Stuff your face with Stuffed French Toast

I look forward to weekends, even now that I don't have to work. We're trying to be responsible adults, DH and I, so we're limiting ourselves to restaurant food only on the weekend - and that too, maybe one or two times. The world is going through a major economic crisis people, and I for one am just too aware of it, aka a wee bit paranoid!

Still ... this girl has enough willpower to turn down a trip to the mall, BUT she can't pass up on pancakes ... especially the ones at IHOP! That was where we had brunch a few days ago. You tell me if this image doesn't make you smile, huh?! Little pillows of doughy goodness, smothered with just the right amount of syrup and butter - savory AND sweet. Fork it, chew it, swallow it, and repeat till you end up licking the plate ...Ok that's a lie. Does anyone ever finish their food at IHOP?! Oh it's goooooooooooood ... but it's too much. For short pakistani chicks like me anyway.

The problem with IHOP is that the main course is always so filling that you never have room for that famous Stuffed French Toast on their menu! Yes I hear you - "start with the French Toast, dummy" you say ... but it never works out that way. You get in the door, and all you crave is eggs, hash browns, and pancakes! The next morning I rose to the challenge. I made my own Stuffed French Toast. It's pretty easy and uses all the usual french toast ingredients .. BUT we're going to stuff it with (are you ready?) Nutella and fresh berries! Oh mama.

Nutella, for those of you who haven't tried it (go yell at your friends, they've been keeping it from you) is a delectable hazelnutty-chocalatey spread that you can find at any grocery store these days. Right next to the peanut butter.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. Plump, juicy blackberries. I want to nuzzle them.

Stuffed French Toast To Make You Swoon

Serves 2

Ingredients:

4 slices of sturdy bread (too soft and it'll fall apart in the pan)

2 large eggs

1/3 cup milk (or a bit less)

1/4 cup sugar

Sprinkling of cinnamon (optional)

Mix of fresh blackberries and raspberries (I'm still seeing them in my grocery store, despite the frigid temps outside), or use the frozen ones, thawed

Nutella

2 tbsp Butter

Whipped cream / Confectioners' sugar for garnish

Method:

1. Mix well the eggs, milk, sugar and cinnamon.

2. Take one slice of bread and spread the Nutella on one side of it. Be generous.

3. Sprinkle the berries over the Nutella-covered side, but don't over-crowd. Cut the blackberries in half if they look as ginormous as mine.

4. Cover this slice with the other plain slice of bread and press down lightly, smooshing the edges together.

5. Warm up your frying pan with 1 tbsp of butter on medium heat.

6. While butter is melting, put the nutella-berry sandwich (it hasn't become a french toast yet!) in the egg mixture, turning it several times to make sure it is all covered.

7. Place the egg-ified sandwich in the pan once the butter is completely melted and bubbling.

8. Flip it over after a minute and brown the other side.

9. Take it out of the pan and repeat the process with the remaining two slices of bread.

10. Once both french toasts are done, sprinkly them with confectioners' sugar or top them off with whipped cream. And serve immediately!

I loved this Stuffed French Toast people. No syrup needed. Just hack into it with a fork.

I'm a whipped cream person. My hubby is not. He just doesn't get it. Pfffft. Men. The Verdict: That toast may be stuffed, but you'll DEFINITELY be stuffed after eating it. But it's all worth it, trust me. I will not lie to you my friends. Nutella is king, and those berries worship at its feet. Top that off with eggy, caramelized bread and you have yourself a romantic breakfast-for-two to get you in the "mooooooood". That whipped cream has multiple uses. Oh yeah.