Don’t you just love this time of year? The weather is unpredictable, the sun hangs lower and sets new shadows and the cool air whirls around you, making it time to cosy up and indulge. The clock jumps back an hour and your October Sunday lasts forever. Really I think I can safely say that most of us felt that yesterday never ended. Even the puppy was tired by then end of it. But for some of us, we get an added bonus, a bank holiday Monday! Although all my days at the moment feel like a bank holiday Monday as I’m on sick leave, but I still felt super excited that I get an extra day with D. Up at seven to feed and play with the animals and then hobbled around the kitchen to make breakfast while D got a very well earned sleep in.
I may not be able to do much yet, and I am dying to get back to cooking properly but I think I did a rather good job making a yummy scrummy breakfast…. French toast with toasted almonds, banana slices and maple syrup.
This has been a long long long week. We don’t really watch much in the way of television. There are one or two things that we record and save for days that we don’t have energy to do anything except plonk ourselves down on the sofa, glass of wine, fire blazing and relax. I NEVER watch daytime television but have made an exception this week and am now totally and utterly addicted to it. Mortified to admit this but I’m making my way through the entire collection of ‘ The real housewives of O.C’. It is fascinating and I can’t imagine how I will ever go back to work and not find out what happens in their mad little lives. Seriously I’m having withdrawal symptoms just thinking about it. But I think I will manage to distract myself and be a busy bee in the kitchen once again. I cannot wait!
But for now, here is a great start to the day:
FRENCH TOAST
WITH TOASTED ALMONDS, BANANA SLICES AND MAPLE SYRUP
Once you have the french toast mastered, you can add any toppings. We usually have bananas so this tends to be our favourite go to breakfast, but we also love berries and crispy bacon and a side of yogurt. But the choice is yours…
This is best made with bread that is not the freshest, or if you have some in the freezer, take it out 20 minutes before needed and let thaw. I like to use thick cut sliced bread but you can use whatever you have.
This recipe was for 2 people
- 3 slices of bread
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2-3 small knobs of butter
- 1 banana
- handful toasted almonds (flakes)
- maple syrup
- icing sugar to dust
THE HOW
Beat the eggs and milk together just to combine. Add your cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla and beat again till creamy and light looking. Dip your bread into the mix, slice by slice turning it and coating the whole piece. Once all your bread is dipped, heat a pan on medium heat and add 1 knob of butter. Depending on the size of your pan and the size of the bread pop a slice into the pan and if there is room add a second. Allow to cook until nicely browned (about 2 minutes) and then turn the bread over. Remove the bread once caramelised in colour. Repeat until all the bread is cooked. Don’t worry if the edges of the bread look a little overdone. This makes for a nice crispy contrast to the softer center.
Cut the slices in half and layer bread, almonds, banana, bread, almonds, banana and so on. Drizzle with syrup and dust with icing sugar. And tuck in!
Kitchen Feasts 
Never had them with bananas. Interesting. I’ll try it next time!