Apricot-Walnut French Toast

Apricot-Walnut French Toast

I am fairly conservative with money, preferring to save what I can for travel. I never buy anything not on sale and in the past year, I've become a thrifter, haunting second-hand stores for clothing made when clothing was well made, and buying it for a few dollars.

When it comes to grocery shopping, I look around for the best deals. I have been known to clip coupons, read weekly circulars, shop at several different stores and use leftovers - or pop unused portions in the freezer.

All this careful frugality goes out the window when I am in or near a patisserie or baker's market stall in France.

I buy more than my husband and I can eat, just because I want to try it. Financiers, tarte tatin, Jesuits, brioche, olive bread, pain au chocolate and more. I cannot resist. I am helpless. Weak.

Fortunately, I know what to do with leftovers. French toasts and bread pudding are an excellent way to use up what we cannot eat. French people buy bread daily for a reason: It grows hard in a day or two, unlike the bread we buy so carefully sliced and wrapper.

Apricot-Walnut French Toast for Two

For the bread

• 6 slices apricot or cinnamon-raisin bread (I used apricot bread with raisins)
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup cream or whole milk
• tablespoon brown sugar
• teaspoon vanilla extract
• dash cinnamon
• pinch salt
• butter to melt in skillet

For the sauce:

• 1/2 cup apricot preserves (something I always buy in France, but you can use honey)
• tablespoon melted butter
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped*

Beat eggs, cream or milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in large bowl. Soak bread until it is thoroughly moist, but not falling apart. Butter skillet; use medium heat to melt butter. Place in skillet, continuing to use medium heat, and brown on both sides, carefully turning over frequently with a spatula.

While bread is turning golden brown, heat preserves in a small saucepan over a low burner. Add butter and walnuts.

Remove bread from skillet and smother in apricot-walnut sauce. This is delicious when served with vanilla yogurt and apricot nectar. I have also paired it with cream cheese, which I consider breakfast food, and maple sausage.

*As I recall, I could not find a nut grinder in the kitchen we were renting, so I skipped this step.


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