Pain Grillé Français
French toast was probably the first thing that I ever learned how to make on my own. My grandma is French and she makes it the best. Even though I have her recipe and learned how to make it directly from her, I could never reproduce it the same way that she can. So, I made it my own and added a few sultry spices. This is a really simple and satisfying breakfast and you probably already have the ingredients in your kitchen. Feel free to use whatever bread sounds good, including banana or raisin bread, oatmeal, or whole wheat. I would probably stay away from rye or pumpernickel, but to each his own. I prefer sourdough as it contrasts well with the syrup and challah for its egg-like qualities and sturdy crust. Both sop up the batter really well.
- 1/2 loaf of sourdough or challah bread (cut in to six 1″ to 1-1/2″ slices)
- 5 eggs beaten (like they owe you money)
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. allspice
- 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Combine and whisk all ingredients into a bowl that is large enough to allow a slice of bread to sit almost flat on the bottom. Preheat your griddle to about 400 degrees. Dip bread into batter and hold there for at least 10 seconds, flip and then hold for another 10 seconds, allowing the batter to absorb into the bread. Lay the bread onto the griddle and cook until lightly browned. Flip, add a thin sliver of butter to the cooked side. This will allow the butter to melt and absorb into the bread as well. When both sides are lightly browned transfer to a plate and serve immediately with high-quality maple syrup, preferably local if you are lucky enough to live in the area of maple trees.
