Alma's Festive Morning French Toast

Sharing tea with Alma is always a treat!

The Chew on Tuesday had a feature called "The Iron Grandma Brunch Battle". Three grandmother's were selected to prepare and share their favorite brunch recipes. A panel of three distinguished judges gave the "Iron Grandma" award to Mama T for her delicious overnight French toast recipe. While viewing, I realized a similarity to Alma's delicious company breakfast French toast. It's perfect for company because you can prepare it the evening before and place it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, simply pop into the oven to bake for 45 minutes and then set on the table to serve. Simply add juice or tea. This dish contains carbs, protein, and fruit. It's a one-dish meal. I hope you enjoy the recipe as much as our family does.

Alma's Festive Morning French Toast

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

3 tsp. ground cinnamon, divided

3 tart apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced (Granny Smith)

1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1 loaf Italian or French bread (cut into 1-inch slices)

6 large eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 Tbsp. vanilla

Combine brown sugar, butter and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a 13 x 9 baking dish.  Add apples and cranberries; toss to coat well.  Spread apple mixture evenly over bottom of baking dish.  Arrange slices of bread on top.

Mix eggs, milk, vanilla and remaining 2 tsp. cinnamon until well blended.  Pour mixture over bread, soaking bread completely.  Cover and refrigerate 4 - 24 hours.

Bake covered with aluminum foil, in a preheated 375 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Uncover and bake 5 minutes.  Remove from oven; let stand 5 minutes.  Serve warm.

Makes 12 servings.

*To veganize, substitute almond or soy milk for dairy milk. Instead of eggs, use a block of tofu that's blended with 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Use Earth Balance or olive oil to replace butter. Easy.

Alma is modeling a teapot purse. Size extra-large!
You could fit  your stash of cosmetics in this handbag.

Stovetop Granola

My favorite granola recipe...so easy and yummy! Make it for your own breakfast, or mix up a batch to gift to others. 

Stovetop Granola

3 cups oatmeal (rolled oats), not quick or instant
1/2 cup coarsely chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans)
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup dried, shredded coconut, preferably unsweetened
1/2 tsp. cinnamon or coriander
1/4 cup light oil (sunflower, etc.)
1/3 cup maple syrup (or your favorite sweetener)
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup dried fruit of your choice (raisins, currants, cranberries, or
chopped apple, apricot, pear, pineapple, prune, etc. or combination;
may omit entirely)

Use a large, heavy skillet, at least 10 inches round, with high sides. (If you don't have a skillet this big, use a smaller one and prepare granola in two batches. Or use a wok, which works great!). 

Into the cold skillet place the oatmeal, nuts, sesame seeds, coconut, and cinnamon. Mix well.

Blend the oil, syrup, and vanilla together in a cup. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients in the skillet, stirring well to blend.

Turn the heat under the skillet to medium high. Toast the mixture, stirring frequently, until the oats and nuts are crispy and browned. The sesame seeds will start to "pop" and the maple syrup will smell like burnt sugar --- be careful not to let the mixture burn.

Toasting will take no more than five to seven minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in the dried fruits. Let the granola rest in the skillet to cool.

NOTE: Some people don't like a crunchy or chewy granola. If you prefer a tender granola omit or reduce the amount of nuts and add seeds instead. Choose a combination from: sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, etc. 

This recipe is very adaptable. If you don't have an item. . .leave it out or find a substitute. It'll still taste great! This is a yummy recipe and takes much less time than "oven" granola. It turns out differently every time, depending upon which ingredients you choose.

Simplest of Simple Waffles

Amazingly, these three ingredient waffles are very delicious!  Be sure the waffle iron is completely preheated and conditioned (oiled).  Don't peek until the "done" light goes off or they will stick.  

Simplest of Simple Waffles

1 cups water
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup rolled oats, gluten free if necessary

Preheat waffle iron. Using a blender, mix all ingredients together until very smooth. Pour batter into a prepared, hot waffle iron. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. The waffles should be golden brown and crispy. Serve with maple syrup and peanut butter or canned fruit. Also good with a frozen dessert like sherbet.

Serves: 1 or 2

Enjoy! Recipe may be doubled to serve more.

Blender Waffles

 

Blender Waffles

1/4 cup dates, pitted

1/4 cup cashews

2 Tbsp. flax seeds

2 cups oats, gluten free if necessary

1 cup corn meal
1/2 cup Bob's Red Mill Gluten-free Mighty Tasty hot cereal
(you can substitute additional brown rice flour  for the Mighty Tasty cereal if desired)

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1 tsp. salt

5 cups water

Preheat waffle iron.  Be sure it is conditioned or brush with a teaspoon of olive oil so waffles wont' stick.

Add half the water to blender.  Then add dates, cashews, and flax seeds.  Blend on high until well mixed and nuts and seeds are ground.  Then, add oats, corn meal, Mighty Tasty cereal,  brown rice flour, and salt.  Add remainder of water and blend until very smooth.  If your blender is not large enough, mix in batches, then pour into a mixing bowl and stir batches together.

Fill waffle iron and close lid.  Bake about 6 minutes or until light goes off.  Be sure the waffle iron is preheated before every application so that waffles don't stick.

This makes a delicious, nutty waffle.  This is a variation of a waffle recipe that my friend, Barbara, from Wildflower Morning Recipes shared.  So, thank you Barbara for a great idea!  If you have any left-over waffles, they can be placed in a zip-lock bag and stored in the freezer until ready to use.  Place in toaster when ready to eat.  This recipe is vegan, gluten-free, and uses 100% whole foods.