I propose a (French) toast!

Breakfasts bore me. I love eggs, fruit, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal….all the traditional choices but e-v-e-r-y d-a-y? Yet I admit I’m often in a hurry (pre-COVID) or too lazy (lately) to make a real breakfast like Huevos rancheros or Shakshuka. I was flipping through another one of those Better Homes and Gardens Encyclopedias of Cooking (Volume 7, Eng to Fru) 1970 in my cookbook collection when I landed on French Toast.

I remember making French toast for my four kids when they were growing up. Which means it had to be fairly easy and quick – because morning were always chaotic. Can’t remember when I last made myself a piece! I have no shortage of recipes for fancy variations like overnight French toast that magically puffs up when you bake it (yes you can email me if you want that recipe).

But the simplicity of this basic recipe called to me. Saturday mornings I can count on having day-old Challah bread and the other three ingredients are kitchen staples. Yes, four ingredients total, even though you will see five listed below. You do not need butter or oil to make French toast. Instead, spray your pan with nonstick spray – I use a small stainless steel skillet. No, you don’t need a nonstick skillet. Heat the pan over medium heat and add the egg-dipped bread slice(s). Here’s the tricky part. Let the egg cook long enough that the toast will release from the pan. Gingerly lift one corner to test if it’s ready to release. Flip and brown the other side. The whole process takes a couple of minutes. Recipe can be halved.

French Toast

2 slightly beaten eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

Day old bread

Butter or oil (I recommend skipping this last ingredient!)

In a shallow bowl combine eggs, milk and salt. Dip bread into milk-egg mixture (enough for 4 to 6 slices of bread). Fry ( in small amount in hot shortening – butter or oil – or coat pan with nonstick cooking spray) in skillet till golden brown. Serve toast hot with maple syrup, confectioners’ sugar, or tart jelly as desired.

Note: Where did the moniker French toast come from? Many explanations – all different. I like this one the best! According to legend, it was a man named Joseph French. He created the dish in 1724, and advertised it as “French Toast” because he was grammatically inept and forgot the apostrophe.