In France it's known as le pain perdu - or "lost bread". But it's not really lost - here's a new twist on an old breakfast favorite that's filled with wonderful flavors your kids will love. You can serve this topped with Bananas Foster or the Orange Pecan Maple Syrup.

Ingredients

  • Filling:
  • 1 (8 ounce) Package Cream Cheese
  • 1/3 Cup Sugar
  • 1/3 Cup Toasted, chopped pecans
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest
  • 1 Large Loaf French Bread
  • Batter:
  • 4 Eggs beaten
  • 1 Teaspoon Vanilla
  • 1/4 Cup Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons of butter for frying (this butter is not part of the batter)
  • Orange Pecan Maple Syrup
  • 1 Cup Pure Maple Syrup
  • 1/4 Cup Toasted Chopped Pecans
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest

Directions

Blend the cream cheese, nuts, sugar and 1 tablespoon of the zest in a medium bowl and set aside. Cut the French bread loaf into 1 inch slices. Then cut each slice again 2/3rd through to form a pocket with a "hinge" of bread at the bottom. Place a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture into each bread pocket and lightly press to close around the filling. Set aside.
Whip the eggs in a medium glass bowl with a fork then add vanilla and milk and stir again. Pour the egg mixture into a shallow dish or pie pan. Briefly dip each filled bread pocket on both sides.
Heat a large pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Place the bread in the pan and fry on both sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes.
Serve hot with heated Orange Pecan Maple Syrup.
Alternative "do-ahead" preparation for a large group:
The night before, prepare bread and filling as stated above and arrange a single layer of the filled pockets in an oven-safe baking dish. Prepare the batter in a bowl with the following ingredients:
6 Eggs, beaten
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1/4 Cup Milk
Pour the batter evenly over the bread, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and bake 45-50 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve immediately topped with the Orange Pecan Maple Syrup recipe.

Orange Pecan Maple Syrup
In a hot medium sized sauce pan (or the fry pan used for cooking the toast) add syrup, orange zest and pecans, and heat until bubbling. Remove from heat and pour a small amount over individual servings.



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Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: internet
Submitted By: Marlen
matchlessm@aol.com
Orange Pecan French Toast