French Toast With Macerated Strawberries

French Toast is a classic breakfast/brunch food. However, it can get really heavy and rich.  Fresh strawberries take the place of maple syrup in this recipe, which helps to cut that richness, gives it a brighter taste and makes it healthier as well.

This recipe is enough for two people, but you could probably push it a bit if you had to and have enough for more, just by adding more milk and eggs

Ingredients:
2 Eggs
1/2 cup of milk
Day old bread
2 Tablespoons of sugar
1 big handful of strawberries.

Macerated strawberries are simply fresh strawberries that have been left to sit in a bit of sugar for a while. This draws out their juices beautifully and makes a sauce on the berries. So simple and sooo good. Do this step first so they have time to set while you do the rest of the work.

Start by cutting your strawberries.  I cut the tops off mine and then sliced vertically, I think it looks better on the plate. (If you are trying to get more servings out of them, dice them, and that should help them go farther.  They probably won't have to sit as long that way as well.)

Top these with the sugar and mix. Set aside until ready to serve.

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.  While it's heating up, slice your bread into nice thick slices. Lay these out on a sheet tray (as you can see in the picture it's ok if they overlap a bit) and place in the oven for five minutes.  This will dry them out a little bit and help them absorb the liquid.

Add the milk eggs and milk to a wide baking dish, and then beat until incorporated.

Place two pieces of bread in the milk/egg mixture.  Give them a few moments to soak it up before flipping. Flip and wait a few moments again.

Then set the slices on a drain rack for a few minutes so they can finish absorbing all the milk into their cores.

On med. heat start warming up a skillet. Go ahead and grease it with a little bit of butter so your bread doesn't stick.

Cook your bread until nice and golden brown on both sides.

Plate and top with strawberries and their syrup.

Here you are, a satisfying, rich, sweet, fresh dish that will help you get going in the morning.

Another thing about strawberries instead of syrup, doesn't it just look so much more beautiful with that pop of red?

Well, enjoy!