Pain Perdue (french toast)
Pain
Perdue ("lost bread" in French), is the original version of the more commonly
known "French Toast". The Creole people in Louisiana are notorious for being
frugal. This dish developed when they found a use for "stale" bread.
Prep Time: 20 minutes Serving Size: 4
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
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- 5 tablespoons butter
- 8 slices day-old Baguette, sliced 3/4-inch thick
- confectioner's sugar
- maple syrup
- fruit preserves, optional
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Determine if your large non-stick
frying pan will hold all eight slices of bread at one time. If not, preheat
oven to 200° to hold cooked bread while preparing the other slices. Be sure
your baguette slices are really stale (quite hard to the touch). In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and the sugar until
well blended. Add the milk, vanilla and cinnamon; whisk well. Place all the
baguette slices in one layer in an oblong dish. Pour the egg mixture over
the slices and toss to coat, leaving the slices in one layer. Allow the
baguette slices to soak up and absorb the mixture, turning with tongs
occasionally. Do not let the bread soak so long that the bread begins to
falls apart. This could take 15-20 minutes, depending on how stale your
bread is. Heat butter over medium heat
in the large frying pan. (If you are doing this in batches, use half of the butter
at a time.) Place bread in the pan and cook
over medium-low to medium heat until golden brown, about ten minutes, turning once.
(If doing in batches, place first batch in oven to keep warm. Fry second batch following
same procedure.) Place on plates and sprinkle lightly with confectioner's sugar. Serve
with syrup and/or fruit preserves. |
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