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Updated June 5th, 2008
 Cooking
with Kristine Clark
Apple Raisin
French Toast Strata
 Hosting a weekend brunch is a
fun, easy and relaxing way to entertain.
A dinner party generally
involves hors d’oeuvres, soup or
salad, a main course and dessert.
There are cocktails and wines to consider
as well. I won’t even get into
stuff like dishes and linens, but you
get my drift. Brunch isn’t nearly as
complicated. Of course, you could
make it so if you like, but it’s a perfect
way to gather good friends
together to celebrate a lovely spring
day.
So many of my favorite brunch
dishes are best made the night
before, and that’s a real plus in my
book. It’s too much pressure to make
perfectly poached eggs and hollandaise
sauce while our buddies
stand around sipping Mimosas and
putting in their two cents worth.
Better to make a decadent casserole
the night before and pop it in the
oven when guests arrive. Cutting
fresh fruit and browning sausage
takes very little time and effort at the
last minute, so I can be the charming
and carefree hostess I aspire to be.
Recently while cruising AllRecipes.com, I found one called
Apple Raisin French Toast Strata.
Just the name is a mouthful! It is
descriptive, though, and it caught my
attention. Then, when I noticed the
ingredients included cream cheese, I
was sold. The combination of the
sweet raisin bread, tart apples and
cream cheese was irresistible.
Apple Raisin French Toast Strata
is scrumptious. Scott and I enjoyed it
the next day for dinner. I wanted to
be certain it was as good as I imagined
before telling you about it. It
was. It will be ideal for our next
brunch event. Served with sausage,
fresh fruit and mimosas, Bloody Marys and coffee, it will be a party
in our mouths.
Brunch is a super way to entertain.
Not only is it very doable and
delectable, but also, when your pals
have gone home, you’ll still have
plenty of time left to take a nap.
Now that’s a fun and relaxing day.
Apple Raisin French Toast Strata
Serves six to eight.
Ingredients
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1 (1-pound) loaf cinnamon raisin bread, cubed
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1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, diced
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1 cup diced, peeled apples
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8 eggs
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2 ½ cups half and half
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6 tablespoons butter, melted
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1/4 cup maple syrup
 Directions:
1. Spray a nine-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange
half of the cubed raisin bread in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the
cream cheese evenly over the bread and top with the apples. If you like
extra raisins, add them now. Top with remaining bread.
2. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the half and half, butter and
maple syrup. Pour over the bread mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and
press down so that all bread pieces are soaked. Refrigerate at least two
hours or preferably overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
4. Bake for 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve with extra-warm syrup.
Submitted to AllRecipes.com by TerrieS
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Do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to
share with our readers?
If so, please write to Kristine at:
Outlook Newspaper, P.O. Box 578,
La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91012
or e-mail it to:
outlooknews@earthlink.net |
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