French Toast Casserole

This one is for all the Dads out there.  Here is an easy Mother's Day breakfast recipe for you.  Serve this to the Mom in your life along with a glass of champagne and fresh strawberries and you will sure to be a hero.  Just to be sure that this recipe can be pulled off by a man who never cooks, my husband made it for us this morning!

Ingredients:

1 Loaf Bread (Brioche would be my 1st pick, Challah my 2nd pick and if you can't fine either buy a loaf of Texas Toast cut bread, it will be super thick cut.  You should be able to find Brioche or Challah in the bakery department of an upscale grocery store)

8ea Eggs

1 Qt (4 Cups)  Light Cream or Half and Half

1 1/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 Cup Raisins

2 Tbl Butter

Lets get started:

The night before get your mis en place together (mis en place is a french cooking term for getting all of your ingredients together).  Cut your bread into large cubes (approx 1") and spread on a baking sheet.  Leave out on counter, unwrapped to let it dry out.  Whisk together the eggs, sugar, cream and cinnamon..  Set in fridge until the morning.

First thing in the morning pull out the egg/cream mixture, give it a quick whisk to insure that none of the sugar settled to the bottom.  Add all the dry bread cubes and raisins to cream mixture.  Gently push the bread under to help them soak up the cream mix. 

Let bread soak up mixture for 10 min.  While you wait turn your oven on to 350'.  Grease a baking dish with a chunk of butter.

Pour all the bread and cream mixture into the greased baking pan.  Cover baking pan with foil and place in the center of your oven.

Bake for 1 hour (or until it set in the center)  Remove foil and drizzle 2 Tbl melted butter over the top.  Turn on your broiler and broil until golden brown (this browns VERY quickly, do not walk away!)

Notes:

Although I have not tried it, I would imagine that fat free half and half would probably work.  Of course you will be loosing a little of the decadence but you will save a few calories

This is an awesome recipe to make if you are hosting a brunch get together or to make on a holiday morning. 

Feel free to add other fruits like sliced apples, dried cherries or frozen blueberries.

Got leftovers?  Slice it while it is cold, brown gently with a little butter in a non stick pan, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream...Heaven!