Recipe - Chocolate Pain Perdu (French toast)

I was watching my usual Food Network and came across Melissa d'Arabian's new show, Ten Dollar Dinners. I must say, I was happily impressed. Both with her show and the great recipes and tips, but also with Food Network for finally adding a show that is for everyday people. Most recipes require far too many, expensive or impossible to find ingredients, or other shows require few ingredients, but cook something that most kids would never touch. Anyway, in one of her shows she cooked a dish which is similar to bread pudding. I urge you to make it a point to try this, it's simply amazing and incredibly easy.

Ingredients

1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup butter, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch kosher salt
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
2 eggs
6 slices white bread, crusts removed and cut into triangles


Directions

In a small pot over low heat, add 1/4 cup cream, milk, sugar, 3 tablespoons butter, vanilla, and salt and bring to a simmer. Put the chocolate into a medium bowl and pour in the cream mixture. Let sit until the chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs and mix until well combined. Grease the baking dish with the remaining tablespoon of butter, and it line with the bread slices, overlapping slightly. Pour the chocolate mixture over the bread, making sure to cover the tips. Push the bread down with your fingers to coat the bread completely. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Bake until the custard sets and the bread turns golden at the edges, about 30 minutes.

Add the remaining cream to a chilled bowl and whisk until soft peaks form. Serve the French toast on individual plates with a dollop of cream.

Recipe - Mini-Corn Muffins

Who can resist a chance to turn a basic box mix into something yummy and special. Well here it is. It doesn't get a lot easier without just sticking to the box (but we know THAT won't impress your guests, now will it?). (:

Quick fix these fancy sides with this recipe for Mini-Corn Muffins.

Ingredients

1 (6.5-ounce) package corn muffin mix (such as Betty Crocker)
1/3 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 egg whites
1 cup corn (frozen works best, but canned is fine)
Butter-flavored cooking spray


Directions

Preheat oven to 400. Combine all ingredients except cooking spray in a medium bowl; stir just until combined.

Spoon batter evenly into 24 miniature muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Bake at 400° for 11 minutes.

Spray tops of muffins with cooking spray; bake an additional 2 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand in pan 2 minutes.


***TIPS***
I always like to add a little extra sugar to my mix. I prefer a sweeter cornbread to a saltier one. Also add in some green chiles and/or shredded cheese if you prefer. Makes for some great variations.

Recipe - Banana French Toast

I'm always looking for ways to do things just a little different. My son loves French toast, and he loves bananas. But I get tired of slicing bananas on top of his plate, and if I leave it whole, he peels the whole peel off and gets his hands all nasty. So, here's a little mix of the two.

Start your day right with this recipe for Banana French Toast.

Ingredients

1 Large very ripe banana
2 Eggs
1/2 cup Milk
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
4 slices Whole wheat bread
3 tbsp Butter


Directions

Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until smooth. Transfer to 13x9-inch pan. Place bread in milk mixture and soak until all liquid is absorbed, turning bread occasionally, about 20 minutes.

Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add bread and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Serve immediately topped with syrup, cool whip or powdered sugar.