6 eggs  •  1 1/2 C half-and-half  •  6 T maple syrup
1 1/2 tsp vanilla  •  1 t cinnamon  •  salt, dash
4 C while country bread  •  2 T butter, melted  •  2 T sugar

One of the featured recipe for this months session, BreakFAST, was this Individual French Toast Stratas*. I came across a version of this recipe a few months ago while browsing through Rachel Rays ‘Ever Day’ magazine. Crusty shell, moist center, packed with a maple cinnamon flavor, these individual french toasts are a great way to start a cool fall day. Don’t just grab one on the way out the door, you’ll be sorry you did. This past Monday night I hosted ‘The Stocked Freezer’, a cooking group I started in my home to encourage and educate women with the know-how to create and supply, healthy, homemade meals that are freezable and convenient. Among many different breakfast food recipes we prepared, we made 120 of these babies! I will feature other recipes from the ‘BreakFAST’ session in the weeks to come, meanwhile, try this appetizing french toast delight.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Prep: Whisk eggs, half-and-half, syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Toss bread with butter; divide among 12 muffin cups. Pour egg mixture over bread and let sit until bread has soaked up juices. Sprinkle bread mixture with sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until tops are golden and firm. Allow muffins to cool and serve with fresh fruit and warm maple syrup.

Serves 6

notes: You can also serve this with powder sugar on top for added appeal and sweetness. I also like to make this with cinnamon raisin bread instead of the white bread, the added flavors makes it extra tasty!  Freeze for up to three months. Reheat in microwave for 20 seconds or cover with foil and warm in oven at 350 degrees F, enjoy!

*Stratas: meaning having layers or levels

did you know: cinnamon has been know to help control your blood sugar, lessen inflammation and even fight off bacteria!

… please submit questions for my upcoming Q and A feature, ‘Ask the Dietician’. My friend, J, who is a registered and well-educated dietician, and who is also a certified diabetic educator, specializing in weight management, will be sitting down with me to answer your food related questions. Hurry and submit, I will accept questions until November 2nd.