Stuffed French Toast with Berries and Cream

Last night I slept horribly.  In fact, it was one of those nights I questioned myself in the morning wondering if I had actually slept.  My mind was racing with thoughts of Easter menu recipes, which is odd for me.  I usually never go to bed thinking about food or recipes.  But for some reason, my mind was obsessed with hot cross buns, a traditional yeasted bread roll served on Good Friday.  I thought about how it tasted and the texture of the bread.  How it would feel in my mouth with hints of sweetness from the cross decorated frosting on top.  Even as I write this it seems so funny how I could think about bread rolls all night to the point it would keep me up.  For the record, I don’t ever recall having ate a hot cross bun even though I’ve been a Christian for all my life.  In the churches I grew up in, primarily Korean speaking ones, hot cross buns were never served.

But this morning after looking up several recipes and I gave it a go to satisfy my curiosity and to prevent another night of restless sleep.  I concluded that I can neither say I like or dislike them.  I’m not quite sure how they are suppose to taste.  Are they suppose to taste like brioche?  Maybe challah?  My bread rolls turned out fine enough but I was disappointed.  I wanted to bite into something epic – a pillowy sweet bread that would answer the questions floating around in my head.  Instead, my rolls were just rolls.  Nothing epic.

Having been left disappointed,  I ended up making breakfast for dinner.  I baked a tray of bacon, scrambled some eggs, and quickly made one of my most favorite breakfast dishes – Stuffed French Toast with Berries and Cream.

For months now I have been doing a self-guided study on nutrition and how different types of food digest and effect the body.  This has helped me to better understand how to eat “cleaner” without feeling deprived but also uncovering I have a few food sensitivities that effect me physically and mentally.  I realize white enriched bread is on most people’s naughty list but tonight I wanted to enjoy my meal and treat myself.  Most of the time I do eat whole or sprouted grains but I will eat white enriched flour occasionally and usually in the evening because it makes me tired.

I normally make this recipe with cream cheese and sour cream but my latest obsession has been non-fat Greek yogurt (plain).  I usually eat 1/2 cup in the morning and a 1/2 cup in the evening.  Sweetened with a touch of jam and some slivered almonds on top, the yogurt has become my go-to protein packed snack which I love before going on walks in the morning and right before bed at night.

Buying and eating white bread in our house is definitely a treat.  And tonight, all of us here appreciated eating French toast with white bread instead of wheat… because using wheat would not have been as enjoyable in this recipe.

Easter is around the corner and then Mother’s Day.  If you’re planning an Easter brunch menu, this would make a great one to serve.  Everyone always loves it and it makes people feel special when it’s served. Enjoy!