Strawberry Stuffed French Toast

A favorite here at the B&B is this wonderful, and easy, French toast breakfast.  The key is to prepare the first step the night before so the bread and cheese have a chance to meld together.

1 loaf French bread

8 oz cream cheese at room temp

3 Tbls butter at room temp

2 Tbls strawberry jam

9 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp vanilla

The night before:

Cream the butter, jam and cream cheese together. Slice the French bread length-wise like you are making a sub sandwich.

Flatten out the bread and spread on the cream cheese mix.

Fold the bread back together, place back in the store wrapper, and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning:

Mix together the milk, eggs, sugar and vanilla and place equal amounts in two 9x11 casserole dishes (or any shallow dish with a lip). 

  
Slice the loaf in 1/4 to 1/2 pieces and soak in mix (both sides). Depending on the size of loaf and size of slice, this will feed 6-8 people with two slices per person.

Grill in a slight amount butter/oil until brown on both sides.

We serve a couple of pieces on the plate topped with a spoon of strawberry syrup, a spoon of fresh diced strawberries and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. 

Killer Deviled Eggs

The real name of this recipe is Curried Deviled Eggs but I wanted all of you afraid of  the word "curry" to give me a chance before discounting.  There is a spicy sweetness to curry powder that brings out the best in a deviled egg. Next time you make this or any recipe, put a pinch in the yolk mix.  I bet you put two pinches in the next time!

Note: Curry Powder is a blend of spices and the recipes for the blend are as varied and contested as the best recipe for Potato Salad in the South!  If you find you like using the store bought variety, check out the Internet for other blends to try.  Mom used to make up her own which is much better (but I have lost her recipe!)

6 hard boiled eggs (see previous blog on egg salad for great egg boiling technique) peeled, cut in half and yolks removed.

Blend with yolk:

2-3 Tbsp of mayo

1-2 tsp Wickles pickle relish (or any sweet relish)

1/4 tsp curry powder

pinch of salt

I don't ever measure out my recipe.  I just add stuff until it is creamy and spicy enough for my taste.

If you want to take these on a picnic, place the egg whites in a plastic container and spoon your yolk mix into a zip-lock baggie.  When you get to where you are going, snip off a small corner of the baggie and squeeze. It is an easy way to fill the eggs and you don't have to worry about messing them up in transport.

(One of) My Most Embarrassing Moments

In the movie "As Good As It Gets," the character played by Jack Nicholson  is informed that one of his finer qualities is his willingness to humiliate himself.  I can really identify with that sentiment.  Over the years, as hard as I have tried to perfect my role as a gracious and hospitable innkeeper, that pesky quality occasionally escapes to the forefront. Those moments tend to make for great stories and some of you have heard me tell this one before.  It is still my favorite embarrassing moment.

One weekend we had a full house of folks that came as strangers but were now clicking.  It happens occasionally and always makes for a fun time.  The decision was made to gather in the Common Room and watch a movie.  Since no one had ever seen one of our favorite comedies (and a great parody of the old singing cowboy movies), Rustler's Rhapsody, we chose that as a "must see."

Early on in the movie, there is a scene in the saloon where a stranger walks up to the town drunk at the bar and, cigar in hand, asks for a light.  The drunk looks up, smiles and says, "Yeah, my face and your butt."  The stranger looks perplexed and then walks off.  After a moment, the drunk talking out loud to himself says, "Wait a minute...its not a light. Its a match. And it not my face...but your face...and my butt."

Fast forward thirty minutes and I have to come to the office to answer the phone. Just as I am about to re-join the group, one of the guests walks up to the desk and asks if I have a match.  I laugh and say, "Yeah, your face and my butt."

I just get silence and a perplexed look.

I shake my head and ask, "You aren't in there watching the movie, are you?"

Nope.  He just came down looking for matches to light the candles in his room. 

He was a good sport and laughed at my explanation.  I'm just not sure he ever came back.