Sunday, December 21, 2008

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 ge
t 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.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Muneeba ! Am i the first one writing on your blog ! oh i wish i am !! very proud of u , as always ! im trying this recipe over the weekend ! Looking forward to sharing your whole experience, sharing recipes and a lot of laughs and good humour too ! Frankly , this is the FIRST time im "blogging" , as u know im not as net savvy as many others ! And im so glad Shahi , Meshu and i have been were the first ones who got too see u do this right from the experimental stages ! Thanks for sharing ! Good Luck ! will get back 2 u once i have tried the recipe ! Loving the pics and the adorable and cute term "DH" !!! love and regards 2 ur DH from my side ! take care and happy cooking ! Cheers ! :) HUGS and ALL the love in my heart ! jiya

Anonymous said...

Hey,

Really enjoyed your post. Its breakfast time here and I so crave eggs, hash browns and pancakes now.

You could also try stuffed pancakes, had those in a quaint English tearoom, three layers of pancakes stuffed with banana and maple syrup and topped with a dollop of fresh cream. I altered the recipe a bit and made a batch with strawberries and chocolate syrup. Makes for a wholesome weekend breakfast.

Keep up the good work.

P.S. You should thank Wajiha for the publicity

Anonymous said...

Hey,

Really enjoyed the post, its breakfast time and I so crave eggs, hash browns and pancakes now.

You should also try stuffed pancakes. Three layers of pancakes stuffed with bananas and maple syrup, topped with a dollop of whipped cream or stuff 'em with strawberries and chocolate sauce. Makes for a wholesome weekend breakfast.

Keep up the good work.

P.S. you should thank Wajiha for the publicity.

Muneeba said...

Thks you guys! Jiya knows shez my girl, no matter what ... am grateful for any & all publicity!
Have tried the stuffed banana pancakes Amna ... and u're right, they sure are "wholesome" ... hmmmmm, I think I'm craving them right now!

Anonymous said...

(Doing a homer) mmmmmmmmm.....stuffed pancakes!!
Muns..its looks, sounds ( and probably does taste) DELISH!!
Way to go...

Muneeba said...

Thks Amna! Homer impressions are always welcome :D

Doppelganger said...

I might be converted to fruits and sweet things if I stick to viewing your daily blogs I think. Ok, ok...even I will admit that the stuffed french toast looks a little too appetizing to be refused...even by me. I don't know whether to share this blog with my hubby though, he'll be drooling and asking me to try out the recipe. Hmm, that doesn't sound bad though...I could try out all the recipes and my hubby could eat them all! :D win-win situation.