I had an epiphany yesterday when bringing home fresh strawberries and french bread still warm from the oven. You can see me in an 1800's style dress with a basket of fresh goodies right?
Ha!
Anyway, I thought... You know, cream cheese with those strawberries would be yummy... Ooooh! I could make a cream cheese filling for French toast and top that with fresh strawberries.
With this plan in mind, 5 seconds later, my children pipe up from the back seat. "Tacos sound good for dinner! LET'S HAVE TACOS!"
"But I was thinking french toast."
"I don't like french toast!" "I want tacos"
"Are you sure...? I have strawberries..."
"Ooooh! STRAWBERRIES!"
*shakes head*
So we had tacos. I didn't want friggin' French Toast anyway.
Tonight, I made dinner before they had the opportunity to tell me what sounded good.
See look at me being all sneaky and stuff. (They were outside enjoying the 2 seconds of sunshine we had today)
See my beautiful strawberries?
Unfortunately, we are going to have to murder them slightly to make dinner. But it's ok. They'll be yummy. I might add I bought this 3 pound container last night... and it's half gone.
Nope. No strawberry-a-holics in this house. Not a one.
Ok. So let's start this the way I didn't cause I was being stupid.
Cut your now day old, lovely, crusty French bread into 1/4" to 1/2" slices.
(insert french accent here) Lika dis...
Next, for this lovely loaf, get 2 eggs, some milk and almond extract. Or if you have no almond, amaretto will do in a pinch or if you have to, vanilla.
Yes, amaretto. No, the alcohol. Yes, seriously.
I used both. It was delish.
Onward.
Break open said eggs. (Do I really have to tell you this?)
Scramble the eggs.
(Insert accent here) Lika dis...
That funny looking thing is called a whisk. Forks do in a pinch. Don't panic.
Add milk. Oh. About...2 cups.
Add about 1/4 c of sugar, dash of almond or vanilla or amaretto or a combination. Whatever you have on hand. I wouldn't necessarily do almond AND vanilla, but almond and amaretto are very nice.
Sorry, no picture for that one, but trust me they are in there.
Whisk all together really well.
Do not put the whisk in the...sink.
Take it back out and wash it 'cause you will need to agitate (ooh big fancy word) the liquid to keep sugar suspended.
It's heavy. It likes to sink.
That's your physics lesson for today.
Next drown your lovely bread in the mix until happy (about 10-15 secs per side) and place on baking sheet. You will use said sheet later, again.
We wouldn't want you to have the whisk mistake again, no would we? See I warned you well ahead of time. Oh. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
Less dirty dishes = happy cook.
Ok set the bread aside. If there is any dip left over, pour over the slices. They'll soak it up.
Get the bacon going.
MMMMMM. Bacon.
Time to murder the strawberries,
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Ok. I'm done now.
Let's start the filling.
These are the ingredients in the filling. Plus a little almond extract. It ran away before I could take the picture.
Don't you hate it when ingredients grow legs and run off.
Grab the cream cheese. It's best if slightly soft. Makes mushing easier. Dump it in a bowl.
Add about 1/2c of yogurt, 1/2c marshmallow fluff and 2 Tbs sugar.
Squish together until smooth. Check on the bacon.
I cheated. I do that.
Add almond extract. Mix in.
When it's done, it should look (insert accent here) lika dis...
So the bowl is messy. Cooking is messy. I'm a real cook, not food set person.
Add a few chopped strawberries to the mix. I used maybe 4 little ones.
K. Throw it in the freezer to stiffen up a bit.
Time to murder the strawberries a little.
Chop them into bits. Check on the bacon.
Add sugar to make them happy. Add amaretto if you have no children to worry about. No intoxicating children, no matter how tempting to get them to sleep earlier.
Time to cook the toast.
Heat up a skillet, griddle, or cast iron.
Slather it down with butter.
Check on the bacon. Drain slices on paper towels. Throw on baking pan and into oven if they are done before everything else.
Cook on each side only until golden brown and return to baking pan.
Once all of them are done, slide into the oven for about 7-8 minutes.
Time to assemble.
Take one slice of toast and cut in half. Top one half with the filling from the freezer. Place other half on top. Cover in strawberries.
Grab some bacon and your good to go!
