Day 192.

Two of my favorite words:

Saturday morning.





(Yes, I may have asked Paul to wait to eat until I grabbed the camera to get the yellow sunlight illuminating the powdered sugar.)


*Post-Edit to add the recipe - by request:


"Wicked Good" French Toast:

1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. brown sugar
3 T. New England maple syrup
1 apple, sliced
1/2 c. raspberries
1/2 c. blueberries
1 - 8 oz. loaf of french bread, cut in 1/2" slices
2 eggs
3/4 c. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

*I usually double this recipe to put in a 9x13 pan.

Melt butter, stir in cinnamon, brown sugar & syrup in small saucepan on stove. Pour into base of 8x8 pan. Arrange apple slices & fruit over butter mixture in dish. Arrange bread over the fruit, doubling up layers. In a small bowl, beat eggs, milk & vanilla. pour over bread. Sprinkle cinnamon over all and cover with foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 40-50 minutes. Eat. (Sprinkle with powdered sugar before eating, if you like. It's so pretty on the toast, and it's fun to watch the little white dots slide down the maple syrup waterfalls.)



**Note: I never refrigerate overnight because I'm too lazy, and don't plan ahead. And I change up the fruit and ingredients pretty much every time I make it. I don't use a half cup of the berries; I use 1 c each. Also, I think one more egg and a little more milk makes the whole thing better. And I usually put in more vanilla. Because it's good. And I don't use a 1/2 cup of butter. Maybe a 1/3 cup. It's also good with chopped walnuts on top. Okay, I realize that the final product is really nothing like the original recipe. What can I say? I broke the rules. I would not make a good cookbook writer. But it tasted pretty good. And please don't think that I'm an expert or a good cook. I'll admit that I'm not the best of either. Just trust me on that. If you're looking for a good recipe, check with my sister Melinda. She's an expert on the culinary arts. But I do like to eat. Does that count?

And please. Please. Whatever you do, use real maple syrup. I would appreciate it. (Dan, that goes for you, too. Even if you are in IL and eat the fake stuff, I ask that you not corrupt my niece and nephew.)

Enjoy.

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love."

-Marcus Aurelius