Divinely Decadent French Toast

Many of the wonderful recipes I have made and occasionally post here come from other blogs, my own version of something I read in a magazine, or a healthy cookbook. This one is all mine. It is not complicated, but I will take credit for the inspiration. If you are having overnight guests for a holiday or just want to please the kiddos on the weekend, this is sure to be a hit. I must admit that it does not quite follow the guidelines of super "healthy living" for all you strict eaters out there...so I will post two versions, one for those who might like to indulge a bit once in a while. I know I do!

DIVINELY DECADENT FRENCH TOAST

egg (s)

almond milk (or other milk variation)

vanilla

cinnamon

Alvarado St. sprouted sourdough bread

Mascarpone cheese

mixed berries

berry flavored yogurt

agave syrup

grapeseed oil

There are no specific measurements for this recipe, since you likely have made French toast before...just eyeball it. About one egg is required per 4 slices of bread you will be serving. Crack the eggs into a bowl and whip with a fork. Add almond milk (I add a bit of water since almond milk can be rather thick). Add a splash of vanilla to your liking, then sprinkle in a generous amount of cinnamon. Now you are ready to dip your bread. Place pan over medium heat and pray a small amount of grapeseed oil into pan. You can use another healthy oil, like coconut oil. I happen to like the neutral flavor of grapeseed oil. Coat slices of bread with egg mixture, then transfer to pan and brown on each side.

You can stop there if you want the healthier version. Add a pat of butter or butter substitute, swirl with agave, a pinch of cinnamon and serve. Keep reading for decadent, divine, oh-so-yummy version...

Okay, so you have your French toast. Now for the toppings. Scoop out a dollop (or two..or three) of Mascarpone cheese and put it on the toast. Add a couple tablespoons of a thin berry yogurt (I like "O Organics" raspberry from Safeway). Add fresh mixed berries if you can find them. Thawed-out frozen berries will work too. Top with a generous swirl of agave syrup and a pinch of cinnamon sprinkle. Voila'! The most divine French toast!

What I like about this kind of indulgence is that it doesn't completely stray away from my healthy lifestyle. I mostly gave up cow's milk a while back and it breaks that rule. For those who don't do cow's milk, you can use Toffuti Better Than Cream Cheese instead of the Marscapone and try So Delicious Coconut Milk yogurt in blueberry. The rest of the ingredients truly are healthy, but you won't know it when you taste it. It's the breakfast version of dessert! I served this to a girlfriend of mine and now she just HAS to have it when she pays us a visit. She unpacks her suitcase and politely asks if I will serve it EVERY morning of her stay. Watch out. Your guests may not want to leave!

Here's to an amazing holiday breakfast, and here's to your health!

It Feels Good 2 Give!!

Here is a super easy way to give to those in need and it won't cost you a penny! Go to http://www.good2give.com/ and find out how your everyday purchases at your favorite retailers can make a huge difference in the lives of others. I am loving this! Top retailers have teamed up with Good2Give....retailers like Amazon, Macy's, and many more. Can you make a difference? Yes, you can. Bookmark this page and get to shopping!

Here's to giving and here's to your health!

About My Last Post

Okay, I am going to write a little disclaimer in reference to my last post, Not Just a Cow. As soon as I hit "publish", I knew I might get a few interesting responses. I got an anonymous comment (which I chose not to publish) addressing the mistreatment of animals, the killing of animals, etc. Ultimately, there was a link attached advocating a vegan lifestyle.

I absolutely agree, that there are problems with the food industry, and for many, a vegan lifestyle is the healthiest choice. I, however, believe that you can still eat meat and be healthy...and you can do it responsibly, by choosing grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, etc, etc, that are humanely treated. This is not an area I choose to debate on this blog. My previous post is about an organization that is trying to help people in severe poverty and hunger change their lives, with the milk, not the meat, of a cow.

That being said, and clarified, I pray that no one is offended by my post. I believed it to be information worth sharing...so I shared it.

Here's to your health!