French Toast with Bacon and Maple Syrup

This is the perfect lock down lunch, quick, tasty and satisfying and just a little bit different.        

 After all, how many ham, cheese and tomato toasted sandwiches can you eat in a week?

We all have bread, eggs, bacon, butter and maple syrup as staples in our cupboards and considering we only go out when we absolutely have too it helps to be creative with your lunch.

A few years ago close friends of ours had a French backpacker stay with them for a few months.   Once every week he would cook his version of French toast which was actually cooked with slices of brioche but I have substituted wholemeal bread because it is what we always have in our pantry.  The main variation with this recipe is that it includes cinnamon and vanilla.  If you are a real perfectionist you would sprinkle a little sugar on the melted butter before adding the egg soaked bread but, I really don't think that this is necessary and I brown the bread well.We still keep in contact with this lovely man who is also an amazingly keen gardener, he makes his own herbal tisanes and decoctions generally living a simple and stress free life.

Here is beautifully simple but amazing French toast with bacon and maple syrup for two;

3 eggs

4 pieces wholemeal bread (can substitute with brioche or white bread)

3/4 cup milk

3/4 tspn ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

butter to try

4 slices bacon

pure Maple syrup to serve

Beat the eggs with the milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a bowl large enough to accomodate the bread slices.  Add each piece of bread, 1 at a time until it is well soaked in the egg mixture.

Heat up a large non stick frypan and add 2 tablespoons butter, when it is just sizzling gently lower in 2 slices of bread side by side.  Turn after 1 minute to seal that side, then 1 minute on the other side and keep cooking for about 2 minutes per side or until the toast is nicely browned.

In a separate pan fry the bacon slices until lightly browned.

Serve the French toast on a plate with 2 pieces of bacon and top and drizzle with maple syrup.

I also like to sprinkle with a little salt as this helps the balance all of the flavours.

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Buon appetito, enjoy Merryn xx