Twice Baked French Toast

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French Toast is a breakfast that always symbolized the weekend and holidays.  I can remember my mom cooking it for me on Christmas.  I consider it a “special” breakfast, which is probably why I make it ALL THE TIME.  Why wait to experience the good stuff?

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I’m entering this recipe in Tina’s Eggland’s Best Competition.  :)  I know it’s not a very complicated recipe, but it’s delicious, healthy, and fun.  And I cannot follow complicated recipes, anyway!  🙂

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I was excited for Tina’s contest because I always use Eggland’s Best Organic/Cage Free anyways.  It’s the most humane option at my grocery store, so I’m willing to pay the premium.

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Ingredients:

 

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tablespoon unsweeteneed almond breeze
  • 2 pinches of cinnamon
  • 1 pinch of ginger
  • 1 pinch of nutmeg
  • 1 tablespoon of ground flax
  • 2 piece of whole wheat toast
  • Maple syrup for dipping

 

Directions:

 

  • Put bread in toast and set to medium-low toast.
  • In a shallow bowl, combine all the other ingredients except maple syrup.
  • Dip the toast into the egg mixture, coating each side.
  • Place toasts on griddle and cook until browned on each side.
  • Serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup on the side.

 

The spices give this version of French Toast a nice holiday flavor, and toasting the bread before dipping it into the egg mixture keeps it crunchy and firm, not soggy.

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With maple syrup:

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And delicious berries (which, by the way, the Husband bought in bulk at Costco on Monday.  That’s why you are seeing so many berries in November!):

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Nom, nom, nom!

 

Whittle My Middle

 

Since I’ve taken this week off from running due to my calf injury (which feels 90% better!), I’ve been doing lots of yoga and strength moves.  I was JUST thinking how I’ve let my strength training fall to the wayside as my mileage increased when Angela posted the Whittle My Middle Challenge.

 

The goal of Whittle My Middle is to do 6 – 10 minutes of abdominal exercises 5 days a week in addition to your regular cardio and healthy eating habits.  

 

My ab strength is TERRIBLE (I have trouble holding a 30 second plank!) so this challenge seems right up my alley.  With Angela motivating me to stick to it, I know I can!  Check out Angela’s Whittle My Middle Challenge for the list of ab exercises we’ll be doing.   I’m going to use Online Stopwatch to ensure I do at least 6 minutes a day.  Also, I’ll be taking measurements and photographs on at the “before,” “half way,” and “after” points today, November 25, and December 9th, respectively.

 

My goal is to achieve a stronger core so I’m less prone to back pain.  I also hope stronger abs will make me a better runner (of course, it always goes back to running!).

 

Who’s in?  Off to do my exercises right now!

 

PS – Anatomy class is canceled AGAIN! I feel bad my professor is sick, but this is AWESOME.

{ 66 comments }

 

  • Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers November 12, 2009, 8:36 am

    looks like a great recipe to me. simple = perfect! i agree, french toast definitely makes any day feel like a special occasion!

  • megan November 12, 2009, 8:39 am

    wow, what a great idea to toast the bread first! somehow I never thought of that, and I don’t like soggy french toast at all. Definitely doing that next time.

    also, I just posted carrot fries on my blog. have you ever had them?? They are wonderful and a good new way to eat vegetables, since I know you’re not always a huge fan 🙂 I’m not either, and I love these

  • Lu November 12, 2009, 8:40 am

    I’m in. I’m in. I’M IN! This sounds like a great challenge.

  • Alison November 12, 2009, 8:51 am

    I really REALLY like your idea of toasting the bread first. The texture of soggy french toast grosses me out, so this is a super idea. I’ll have to try it out.

  • Emily November 12, 2009, 9:06 am

    Awesome! Im in!

  • Corinne (Green Grapes Blog) November 12, 2009, 9:16 am

    Hi Caitlin,
    I am definitely going to try this recipe–easy, quick, and healthy! What more can you ask for!?! Love it! Thank you! And, I noticed you LOVE Jillian via your “Twitter” time with her. Anywho-I happen to be a huge fan of her workouts and thought I’d share this ab workout with you–it’s Awesome! It’s called “Ripped Up Abs” Maybe it’ll help add some spice to the “Whittle my Middle” challenge … I know it does for me! Here’s the link: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/hl-14448835/jillian_michaels_mini_workouts_ripped_up_abs_season_1/
    Enjoy:)
    Corinne

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 9:57 am

      oh man – thanks!! i heart JM!

  • Evan Thomas November 12, 2009, 9:21 am

    Great recipe! And I love your maple syrup bowl. I wonder if it comes in a maple leaf shape? I entered that recipe contest, too. I can’t wait to see all the recipes that come out of it

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 12, 2009, 9:22 am

    Cancelled class is the best thing ever. I also consider french toast ‘special.’ Yours looks great!

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels November 12, 2009, 9:22 am

    Could I heart your heart bowl anymore . . . probably not!

    Yeah I’m in for Angela’s challenge too. I just need to locate a measuring tape so I can see how big this belly is!

  • Abby (Abbys Vegan Eats) November 12, 2009, 9:24 am

    Lovin that heart bowl.. sooo cute 🙂

  • Matt November 12, 2009, 9:27 am

    Why do you toast your bread before grilling it?

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 9:57 am

      so it stays crunchy!

  • Amelia November 12, 2009, 9:28 am

    Sounds like a yummy recipe. This might sound odd, but that first picture of the eggs is really cool looking. 🙂 You can really tell what a good camera you have – and your awesome photography skills of course.

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 9:58 am

      i just tra-la-laed! lol thank you. i’m really trying to take better pictures. it’s a work in progress.

  • stephanie @ Foodie McFood November 12, 2009, 9:28 am

    I have never made french toast before, but I think I have to try.

    I am thinking about joining the whittle my middle challenge also, but I don’t have an exercise ball so that might be a problem.

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) November 12, 2009, 9:30 am

    Yay!!!!
    I know we can stick to this if we all do it… otherwise I would curl up on the couch I’m sure, lol. Love the stopwatch idea too.

    Oh and by the way, your pictures look like a million bucks!!!!

  • Mara @ What's For Dinner? November 12, 2009, 9:38 am

    Great french toast!
    Just wanted to let you know that OperationBeautiful is being discussed on theknot.com today!

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 9:58 am

      oh, thanks! hope the knotties like it!

  • Sammi November 12, 2009, 9:38 am

    I haven’t seen that post on Angela’s blog yet but I’m about to go over there now! I’m sooooo in! My abs are something I have been needing to do (desperately!) It’s a problem area for me that I’ve never been happy with but never unhappy enough to really keep with it. This is just the kick in the butt (or abs) I need!
    Uh oh! I just read Stephanie’s comment about not having an exercise ball. I don’t either. Looks like I need to go over to Angela’s and see what kind of exercises I’m signing up for! Might need to go shopping for some exercise equipment!

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 10:02 am

      angie said to just replace the exercise ball moves with something else. i dont have a ball either so thats my plan!

  • MelissaNibbles November 12, 2009, 9:39 am

    Great recipe! I like your heart shaped dish. Every breakfast should come with a little love 🙂

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance...after a 100+ POUND weight loss! November 12, 2009, 9:39 am

    I am totally in! I have been posting some “abs” tips this week as I have been trying to focus on that area more too lately. =)

  • Megan @ Megzz Wins At Life November 12, 2009, 9:41 am

    ahhhh I want french toast!!! I love a good challenge esp for my abs!! I am in 🙂

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat November 12, 2009, 9:48 am

    Good luck with the ab challenge! It sounds great 🙂

  • Stacey November 12, 2009, 9:52 am

    I have trouble in plank pose too! I find ab work to be addicting 🙂 I do it AT LEAST four days a week, and always before a run, but I try to mix up my moves every week so my body is always a lil shocked 😉 I totally in! Good luck!!

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) November 12, 2009, 9:53 am

    I’m starting to regret having already begun preparing my breakfast- now I want french toast! Looking good.

    Oh I kind of want to join that challenge…

  • BethAnn November 12, 2009, 9:54 am

    I don’t know if you’ve heard of it…but there is a great strength training program that helped me lose about 30 lbs …it’s by Josh Hillis and is called “the stubborn 7 lbs”. I started it this time last year…lost 30 lbs in about 5 months, ran my first 10k and felt fantabulous all summer in my bathing suit..woo. I haven’t gained a lb since. The program is AWESOME. Every workout takes 30 minutes or less and is structured so you are only weight lifting three times a week…otherwise you burn out and use your muscles too much. I thought of this only because the whittle your middle is 5 times a week and I kind of hate strength training so I liked that the program only had me lifting three times a week. You can also do every kind of work out at home with weights if you don’t belong to a gym. I HIGHLY recommend. It’s an online program and I was so, so skeptical before I bought it but seriously-it. is. a.w.e.s.o.m.e….it also teaches you how you should be weight lifting…slower speed, one set until muscle failure etc. LOVE IT! I also really like doing the p90x ab ripper which you can find on google video. I got a lot of really great idea for ab exercises there and will mix it up when I’m at my school gym. Now that my novel is over…good luck with the whittle your middle! Great idea, especially because the holidays are coming up. I was losing weight during Christmas which was kind of a pain.

    p.s. I’m in my fifth year of school and I’ve been going non stop since senior year (5 year program..took summer classes and then this semester started) and I am SO burnt out. I always celebrate when class is cancelled lol. In fact…I’m doing the class is cancelled dance for you right now.

    p.p.s. sorry for the novel!

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 10:03 am

      haha yes, lets do the class is canceled dance! yes yes yes!

      i will have to check out that routine! it sounds interesting.

      and MAJORRRRRRRRRR major kudos on your healthy weight loss. i’m proud of you!:)

  • RhodeyGirl November 12, 2009, 9:55 am

    Funny you should mention abs because I JUST got back from a serious workout at this hotel gym, and my abs are BURNING. I didn’t even realize that since I started half marathon training I’ve only done abs twice. That is twice in 10 weeks! ew! Back to basics now…

  • BethAnn November 12, 2009, 10:00 am

    Ohhhhh and (to add to the novel) at the beginning of the program I could barely lift a 5 lb weight and at the end I was doing sets of one legged squats…super woman? =)

  • Tay November 12, 2009, 10:01 am

    Yay for canceled classes!! The best 🙂 I adore French toast and used to eat it allll the time. Have you ever tried adding some maple syrup into the batter you dip your eggs in? It’s great!!

    I’m down for the whittle my middle challenge! It’ll be great motivation. And ab work can be down anywhere at anytime! Even when dinner is cooking!

  • Yasmin November 12, 2009, 10:07 am

    I lightly toast my bread before cooking it too. Makes A HUGE difference!

  • Katie November 12, 2009, 10:08 am

    Your post made me so excited! French toast is my favorite breakfast though I don’t make it as much since it doesn’t fill me up for long. I’ll have to try it with some added protein. Second, I missed seeing that contest on Tina’s blog but since I eat eggs almost everyday, I definitely want to try to whip something up. And lastly, I am soo bad at being consistent with ab work! I don’t have many gym buddies where I live right now so this would be great way to keep the motivation. I like the before, during, and after pictures idea. Thanks for so many great ideas this morning!
    Katie

  • Katie November 12, 2009, 10:18 am

    Yay for cancelled classes! I was NEVER a huge french toast fan, but you might convert me!

    I love that challenge, but due to neck/back pain I’m going to pass. I miss doing jack knifes daily etc. though! I can’t remember but there was an AMAZING ab video out at one point that gave me an almost 6 pack when I did it. I think it was called The Firm?

  • Anne P November 12, 2009, 10:21 am

    I am very impressed by your ability to take a picture in the middle of cracking an egg. Well done.

  • Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life November 12, 2009, 10:21 am

    Looks yummy!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite November 12, 2009, 10:31 am

    I love french toast! I agree w/Anne P on the picture of you cracking an egg 🙂

  • TorontoGirloutWest November 12, 2009, 10:32 am

    Everyone seems to be into French Toast lately!!!!

    I have a loaf of challah bread frozen in my fridge that I’m saving especially for my Birthday French Toast this Sunday! 🙂 I can’t even find challah bread where I live so I had to get my mom to ship it from Toronto!! lol

  • Megan November 12, 2009, 10:35 am

    I agree about the special occasions for french toast. Christmas morning breakfast is french toast on french bread, not regular toast, and soaked overnight. Any other french toast during the year is just regular bread so Christmas is special.

  • Natalie November 12, 2009, 10:39 am

    I definitely think you will get faster if you work your core! I used to teach a 30 min core training class, twice a week and one of my participants shaved 15 min off his marathon PR. He took the class regularly for six months and didn’t change anything else. Go planks!

  • Lesley November 12, 2009, 10:56 am

    omg! i love your heart-shaped maple syrup bowl. so cute!

  • Kristy November 12, 2009, 11:02 am

    I’m totally stealing your recipe! I heart French toast and it brings me the same warm memories (insert smile here)

  • Carrie H November 12, 2009, 11:07 am

    Hey, Caitlin, this doesn’t really relate to your post, but can you give some holiday “staying away from meat” tips in the coming days? I’m traveling to my mom’s for Thanksgiving, and I know that she’ll have turkey, stuffing that was baked inside the turkey, gravy that was made with turkey drippings, green beans with bacon … I’ve asked her/offered to help make some of these dishes without meat, but she doesn’t seem too receptive. (I am also going to be away from my home and may not be able to make much to bring.)
    I haven’t eaten meat since June, and I don’t want to start again, but my mental resolve against the gravy (not the meat) is starting to weaken … What’s your plan when eating at an omnivore’s house during the holidays? Just don’t eat most of what is served? That sounds sucky, but it may just be what I end up doing. 🙂 Thanks!

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 11:15 am

      woah, ironic!

      i got an email about this yesterday and planned to discuss it at lunch!! stay tuned.

  • brandi November 12, 2009, 11:11 am

    i love Eggland’s Best, too. They really are the best – the yolks are always so bright and it makes me happy!

  • Maya November 12, 2009, 11:13 am

    I’m going to commit myself to he whittle my middle challenge as well! It would e great if you could post the ab exercises you do as well to give us some ideas.

  • Susan November 12, 2009, 11:25 am

    Off-topic comment – you have one of the most interesting comments sections Caitlin! I usually skip past them on other blogs, but always get sucked into yours. Lots of great readers with interesting things to say 🙂

    Mooooving on… love the French toast recipe! Personally, I think simple recipes are the tastiest 🙂 And I frequently celebrate weekday mornings with “weekend food.” Makes the day more special!

    • caitlin November 12, 2009, 11:37 am

      i agree with the comments – i really like reading everyone’s thoughts. 🙂

  • Tania (Moment Anew) November 12, 2009, 11:38 am

    I will definitely try that recipe! I used to LOVE it when classes were cancelled. Back when I was in school, there was a time where we had so much snow in my city that they called in the national guard to come help clean it up and all classes were suspended for a good two days! Made for a great four day weekend! 🙂

  • skinnyrunner November 12, 2009, 11:49 am

    simple, easy french toast looks yum to me!!

  • Chrysta November 12, 2009, 11:50 am

    ooohh i love french toast. Its the same for me, it always reminds me of the holidays cause that is when my family usually does a big breakfast! Im so in on the Whittle my middle…i need to start crunchin!=)

  • Amber November 12, 2009, 11:57 am

    whittle my middle sounds like something I defiantly need to do!

  • Bethany November 12, 2009, 12:02 pm

    The French Toast looks delicious!! 🙂

  • Julie November 12, 2009, 12:04 pm

    I love French Toast and the last time I made it it wasnt eggy enough. Next time I’ll use more eggs like you and add some almond milk too. I like mine eggy AND soggy though so I wont be toasting 😉

    I can’t wait for your lunch post. I went veg in June too and am a little scared for Thanksgiving. I already offered to make a veggie stuffing, but I feel like my plate will be naked without a protien on it.

  • Angie November 12, 2009, 12:11 pm

    Beautiful breakfast!! And, so funny- sorry your professor is sick- but those canceled class days are priceless. Enjoy!

  • Katie - Life Discombobulated November 12, 2009, 12:26 pm

    I have three long, travel/wedding/conference filled weekends between now and Christmas, and the Whittle My Middle challenge would be an awesome way to make sure I’m keeping up core strength throughout all of the traveling! Thanks for mentioning this! I’m going to take my “before” pictures later today…
    Also, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the stopwatch!!! This morning I set it for 30 minutes, and set to work on some homework. It kept me from getting distracted, and I was super productive! This is a MUCH needed tool at the end of a busy semester! THANK YOU!!!!! : )

  • Jenna November 12, 2009, 1:28 pm

    i have never toasted my french toast before dunking it in the mixture, can’t wait to try it out next time! yayyy for no class!
    jenna

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) November 12, 2009, 2:03 pm

    I’m starting the Whittle My Middle challenge tonight. I think it is something I can do even being sick.

  • janae November 12, 2009, 2:11 pm

    I’m in :o) It’s always better to do challenges with others! I’m starting a day late… <3

  • Janna (Just Flourishing) November 12, 2009, 2:28 pm

    I’m totally in on the whittle-ing! I’m going to start today and try and do some of those moves from the video angela posted.

    Mmmm. I love berries. 🙂

  • Erin November 12, 2009, 3:06 pm

    Oh my gosh, I would have never thought to toast the bread before dipping it in the egg mixture! What an awesome idea!

    I’m meeting with a personal trainer next week who is going to show me some good strength training for runners. I want to ask her about good ab exercises. I’m really bad at planks, too!

  • Lizzy November 12, 2009, 3:10 pm

    that french toast recipe sounds awesome, fast and delicious!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) November 12, 2009, 6:59 pm

    Ooooh I just love canceled classes!
    The French toast looks and sounds fantastic – I love French toast, but your method sounds even better than I am used to … crunchier.

  • Tatum November 13, 2009, 1:02 am

    Oh sounds good. I’m in! I def need to whittle my middle.

  • Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run November 13, 2009, 2:51 am

    The French toast looks fabulous! I like the idea of toasting the bread first…and the heart dish with maple syrup is too cute : )

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