Specials: Broken French Toast

Thank you for all the answers to my question “What is your ‘Go To Meal’?"  I received a lot of suggestions – and many of them involved breakfast for dinner. 

Breakfast and eggs was always my mother’s “Go To Meal” especially on Fridays during lent.  I also remember pancakes and “Specials." Both my sister and sister-in-law answered my question with “Mom’s Specials” and so did my old friend Sue who called it “your mother’s broken french toast."

I actually hadn’t thought about Specials in many years. I don’t know why I haven’t served them to my family more often, but I am really enjoying the “Special” I am eating while writing this. Broken french toast is a great description for this meal because basically that is what it is.

Use any bread you have in the house, this is a great way to get rid of any old bread especially after you have had a party.  Or use cinnamon and/or raisin bread if you have the luxury of planning ahead. My sister adds fruit like blueberries to it. My sister-in-law loves topping it with brown sugar like my mother used to do, but it is delicious with maple syrup. This is a great meal to teach your children to make, they will love breaking up the bread. And since this goes together quickly, you can make it while “running around town” and you can reheat it quickly for the late arrivals.

Oh the memories going through my  mind right now.... I love you Mom!

Ingredients

3 slices of bread for every 2 eggs

2 eggs

1 tablespoon of milk

Butter for the skillet

Optional

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

A sprinkle of confectionary’s sugar

A sprinkle of cinnamon

Blueberries, Bananas

Toppings:

Brown Sugar

Maple Syrup

Put the eggs and milk in a bowl and beat well. Break up the bread and add to the egg mixture so the bread is completely covered with the egg. Add any of the optional ingredients – I really love adding cinnamon to this – or none of the optional ingredients – that is how my mother used to make it. Melt about a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the bread and egg mixture to the skillet so it is in a single layer and cook until brown, flipping the Special over so it browns on both sides.

Top with more butter, brown sugar or maple syrup. This can be reheated in the microwave. Use 50% power so the microwave doesn’t ruin the texture of the bread; the microwave can make bread “chewy” so reheat slowly and at medium power.