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Misc: Caramelized French Toast with Vanilla Pears

Source of Recipe

Rocky Mountain News


Recipe Introduction

Can you really end dinner with something that sounds like breakfast? Just try this caramelized pear recipe for a new take on French toast. The dessert has plenty of appropriate elements, with seasonal fresh fruit nicely dressed up, served over rich challah French toast and topped with vanilla-bean ice cream.

List of Ingredients

For the vanilla pears:

2 tablespoons butter

3 large ripe Bartlett pears, peeled, cored and sliced

¼ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the caramelized French toast:

2 eggs

2/3 cup half-and-half

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

4 (1 ¼-inch-thick) slices challah bread (or other sweet egg bread)

2 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons brown sugar

Vanilla-bean ice cream




Recipe

• To prepare vanilla pears: Melt butter in a medium skillet. Add pears, brown sugar and vanilla. Simmer over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes until pears are tender.

• Remove from heat and carefully remove pears from pan with a slotted spoon. Let pears stand for a few minutes, then drain any juices into skillet.

• Place skillet back over medium-high heat and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and caramelized. Remove from heat and set aside.

• To prepare French toast: Beat eggs, half-and-half, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a large shallow bowl. Add bread slices and let soak for about 2 minutes to absorb mixture. Turn and let stand 2 minutes more.

• Melt butter in a large skillet. Sprinkle ½ tablespoon brown sugar on each side of bread. Cook over medium-high heat for about 2 to 3 minutes per side until crisp, being careful not to burn the sugar.

• Transfer to plates and top with pears, caramel sauce and a small scoop of ice cream.


Serves 4

Nutrition information per serving: 500 calories, 9 grams protein, 21 grams fat, 70 grams carbohydrate, 175 milligrams cholesterol, 4 grams fiber, 370 milligrams sodium