A friend stayed with us during the last bad snow...no, not the one at the beginning of this week, or the one before that, the one two weeks ago. It was a snowy Saturday evening and she arrived after a steep shivering walk up our hill, just after supper had been cleared away. "No problem!" said my Man who threw together a plate of his famous nachos and placed them before her.
I cannot tell you how many times those nachos have saved my bacon.
No peanut butter? Nachos!
Out of lettuce? Nachos!
Mom cooked all afternoon to make three dinners ahead for the week and not ONE of them is finished in time for dinner? Nachos!!!!
Having a go-to meal on standby is a confidence builder and it also seems to do my Man's heart good to be the dinner hero once in a while.
I've recently come across a breakfast standby that's almost as simple as nachos but will perhaps fill your belly for a bit longer. This offering is simple enough for a weekday breakfast but decadent enough to reserve for special weekends as well. It was this recipe that Meg and I prepared ahead for our family and our friend to enjoy on a snowy Sunday morning. It took all of 10 minutes to assemble and it is easy enough to fix while you are visiting with your thawing winter guest.
French Toast Bagel Bake
{Printable Recipe here}
{Adapted very slightly from Lisa-Marie}
Ingredients:
1 sleeve of bagels, any flavor though we particularly enjoy cinnamon or blueberry
8 eggs
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
Here's what to do:
With a serrated knife (one that has "teeth") cut the bagels into cubes. Place cubes into a 9x13 baking dish.
In a large bowl, add eggs and beat them to break the yolks. To the beaten eggs add milk and vanilla and stir to combine.
Pour egg and milk mixture over the bagel cubes and press the bread down into the dish gently with your hands until the bagels begin to soak up some of the liquid.
Cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight.
To make the syrup:
Either the night before, or while dish is baking in the morning...
...combine the softened butter and the brown sugar until the mixture becomes paste-like.
IN THE MORNING:
Turn oven to 350˚ and remove bagel bake from the refrigerator (don't forget to remove the plastic wrap). When oven has reached 350˚ bake dish for 30-35 minutes then remove from oven and dot the top with the butter/brown sugar mixture.
Place back in the oven for 5 minutes until syrup forms on the surface. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes and enjoy!
Note: Cinnamon or nutmeg, can be added to the butter/brown sugar topping if desired. Begin with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon and adjust to taste.
"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last,
"what's the first thing you say to yourself?"
"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"
"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully, "It's the same thing," he said.
~A. A. Milne~
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