French Toast for a Queen

RECIPE

Yield
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
3/4 cup nonfat milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Cooking oil spray
8 slices sweet French or challah bread, about 1 inch thick (8 to 12 oz. total)
Powdered sugar
Maple syrup
Orange wedges

Preparation
1. In a shallow bowl, whisk to blend eggs, egg whites, milk, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

2. Lightly mist a 10- by 15-inch nonstick pan with cooking oil spray.

3. Soak bread thoroughly on each side, a few pieces at a time, in egg mixture.

4. Place slices slightly apart in a single layer in baking pan.

5. Bake in a 500° oven until toast is golden on bottom, about 5 minutes. With a wide spatula, turn slices over and bake until other side is browned, about 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer hot French toast to plates.

6. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, drizzle with maple syrup, and serve with orange wedges, squeezing juice onto toast.

Nutritional Information
Calories:237 (17% from fat)
Protein:11g
Fat:4.6g (sat 1.2)
Carbohydrate:35g
Fiber:1.5g
Sodium:428mg
Cholesterol:107mg

French cooking@home
by cooking mania

Apple-Cranberry-Currant Pie with French Topping

RECIPE

Yield
Makes 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients
1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup currants
1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries
About 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons plus 1 cup unbleached or regular all- purpose flour
1 tablespoon finely shredded orange zest
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apples (about 2 1/4 lb.)
10-inch pie pastry for a single-crust pie
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks

Preparation
1. In a small bowl, combine brandy and currants. Cover and let stand until currants are plump, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.

2. Preheat oven to 375°. Sort cranberries and discard any that are bruised or decayed. Rinse and drain berries.

3. In a large bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 6 tablespoons flour, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. With a slotted spoon, lift currants from brandy; reserve brandy. Add currants, cranberries, and apples to sugar mixture and mix well. Taste and add more granulated sugar if desired. Pour filling into unbaked 10-inch pie pastry in pan. Drizzle evenly with reserved brandy.

4. In another bowl, mix 1 cup flour and the brown sugar. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with your fingers until mixture forms small lumps. Sprinkle topping evenly over filling. Set pie in a foil-lined 12-inch pizza pan or 10- by 15-inch baking pan.

5. Bake on the bottom rack until juices bubble around edges and through topping, 55 to 65 minutes. If pie browns too quickly (check after 30 minutes), cover loosely with foil.

6. Set pie, uncovered, on a rack until cool to touch, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Cut into wedges.

Nutritional Information
Calories:428 (34% from fat)
Protein:3.6g
Fat:16g (sat 0.0)
Carbohydrate:69g
Fiber:2.5g
Sodium:219mg
Cholesterol:31mg

French cooking@home
by cooking mania