It’s early Thanksgiving morning. I suspect many respectable cooks are already in the kitchen pouring over the plan, adding to the list and organizing the day. The result, of course, will be the tasty holiday meal expected by all the lucky guests at your table.
I am enjoying a quiet moment and my first cup of coffee. It’s a perfect time to share this week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe choice, Sugar-crusted French Toast. Readers, give thanks.
Pain Perdu means lost bread in French. In America where we call a spade, a spade, this translates to stale. Today we’re using our stale bread for stuffing but we most often toss those crumbs away. Not the thrifty French. They turn stale into heavenly sugar-crusted french toast.
Use brioche or challah. Although I used brioche this time, I often have challah on hand. Soak either of these breads in a mixture of eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla and salt. Cook the moist bread until golden and crusty in a pan of melted butter with a generous sprinkling of sugar.
Need I say more?
Happy Thanksgiving to my American readers. Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends and colleagues. Although Thanksgiving has always been our family’s favorite holiday, today seems especially joyous.
I’m happily resettled in Colorado and have resumed a life, albeit different but a perfect now. The past few days, on my way to California, I stopped in Henderson/Las Vegas to visit old haunts and enjoy those amazing friends who befriended Michael and me for the nine years we lived in Nevada. We’ve kept in touch, as I knew we would, and I still feel an integral part of their neighborhood.
Now I am with my family in Death Valley National Park where we have spent our last five Thanksgivings. After our fancy-schmanzy holiday meal at the Furnace Creek Inn – my son-in-law wears a tie – we go casual and it’s all fun. I no longer see my kids as often (they are thriving in spite of that – who knew???) so we are making every minute count.
And, as always and everyday, I am thankful for my growing virtual community of friends. You are a gift that unexpectedly dropped into my lap three years ago. Merci beaucoup.
Life is neither simple nor easy but I’ve always believed my motor chugs along more happily if I concentrate on the glass-half-full, lemonade-out-of-lemon theory. Toss in a serving of Sugar-crusted French Toast and it’s even better.
French Fridays with Dorie, is an international cooking group working its way through Dorie Greenspan’s latest cookbook “Around My French Table”. If you would like to see how my colleagues talked turkey this week, go to our FFWD link.
Happy Thanksgiving Mary! So glad you are settling into your “now” life!! The French toast looks AWSOME!! Enjoy your time with your family! Blessings!
Happy thanksgiving! Man, that looks good. Really good. Wish I could run out and buy a loaf of challah or brioche, b/c odds are slim I’ll summon the energy to make them from scratch anytime soon. I don’t think Italians have a comparable type of bread, but that looks so good that I’ll make it out of whatever I find at the supermarket tomorrow. I can’t resist the whipped cream.
Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you love and laughter in this coming holiday season Xo And lots of French toast!
Cheers to living in the glass-half-full mindset – I need to remember that…the holidays seem to awaken “everything” which really makes for some swinging emotions. Your French toast looks amazing! I’m trying mine w/some little ciabatta rolls, but they don’t seem to be soaking up the custard very well. Might just pop the whole Pyrex in the oven. Enjoy your time in DV!
Amy
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Mary…just wanted to mention that, for yesterdays’s Thanksgiving dinner, I made your wonderful recipe (or Dorie’s recipe, I guess) of brussel sprouts, squash and apple in packets, and they received 5 star rave reviews…thanks!
Cheers, Sharon
First of all: Tons of butterfly kisses and belly hugs coming your way from Malaysia!!
OMG, the last picture – absolute heaven! I did think of toasted almond slices but went for fruit and maple syrup.
You are a gem, my friend…and I will try to emulate your outlook on life. Enjoy your time with family and friends. xo
Lovely, lovely post. I am with you on the Sugar Coated French toast making life better. It certainly put a smile on my face and I am definitely going to be repeating this one (though am seriously considering taking up cycling or running to offset the collateral damage….). Your adorable French plate and mug are also perfect- love that you served these in such. Also love the idea of enjoying these with a nice cup of coffee during that precious quiet first hours of the day. Imagine that helped the cause with all the traveling and visiting you have been doing. So nice that you have been able to visit with your Nevada friends and of course, your dear family. You had me chuckling at the categorization of meal by the tie factor- my boys, believe it or not, love to dress up for their meals as well. Enjoy your week and travel safely !
I like the idea of this pain perdu for breakfast and then stuffing later. Of course, I LOVE BREAD!
I hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration in Death Valley. I certainly feel thankful to have you as my friend. Too bad you don’t live closer, but I think we can still share our common interests from afar. Isn’t the internet amazing! I continue to admire your glass-half-full attitude. Wishing you a happy holiday season. xox
What a lovely post! 🙂 We spent Thanksgiving in Colorado this year! Have safe travels!
Mary, I can’t eat ONE MORE THING….except maybe your Pain Perdue. Wow, those pictures are amazing. Could this possibly taste as good as it looks?
Happy Thanksgiving, Mary. I am glad to hear that life is less turbulent these days.
Yes, there were lists (and Excel spreadsheets and sticky notes).
I am so glad we had the chance to meet – now we just have to get you over to visiting those East Coast presidential libraries 🙂
French toast has always been a favorite comfort food of our family too. I have been making it with Sara since she was a little girl. She once asked her father to make it. He told her he didn’t know how. She told him that she knew how…Nana taught her!
Put some leftover cranberry sauce and sliced turkey between two pieces of French toast. Now that’s something to “croque” about!
Enjoy the rest of the weekend with your family. We are as well. See you in Aspen next week.
Love yourFrench Toast. I enjoyed reading your post and love you outlook on life.
So happy to read you enjoyed every minute Mary! And had a great thanksgiving too. This french toast sounds like the richest thing ever, perfect for a holiday. I think it’s one of the best ways to use leftover bread. PS: I just renewed my US visa for the next 10 years, so expect to see me in Colorado soon, hopefully next year!
Happy belated Thanksgiving! Your French toast looks amazing.
Dear Mary, I certainly hope that you had a fabulous Thanksgiving – it sounds like it was perfect celebration with lots of dear family, wonderful friends and fabulous food!
Your sugar-coated French Toast looks blissful and I loved reading your post, as I always do.
I am more than grateful to count you among my friends, even if it is a virtual friendship and from afar! It does feel real!
Hugs and kisses form the girls,
Andrea & Co.
LOL – it sounds so much more romantic in French. Glad you enjoyed it.
Hope your Thanksgiving was happy and filled with good times! Mary, Your French Toast looks luscious…we totally enjoyed this one. I think it may be the best French Toast ever! From the caramelized sugar to the custardy inside…amazing!
I really enjoyed your post…I’ve always been a glass half full type of girl! Maybe that’s why I like and admire you so much! Have a wonderful week, my friend!
It sounds like you had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend. I hope your Christmas celebrations are full of joy, too.