Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

You can't but love Paula Deen. When Rachel and I were in Savannah, Georgia back in 2008, I would have loved to eat at Lady & Sons, her restaurant. The problem was that by 10:45am, there was already a line around the block. That is when you know the food is good. If it's fried or made with a lot of butter, it's delicious. Thankfully she publishes many of her recipes; whether I follow them to the "T" or not. This recipe could be dinner or dessert.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
12 slices white bread
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
Butter, for cooking
Maple Syrup, for serving
Strawberry Syrup, for serving, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, for serving

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and granulated sugar. Spread the cream cheese on half of the bread slices (the recipe indicates only on one slice. We did it on both because more cream cheese is never bad) and top it with the sliced strawberries. Top with the remaining 6 bread slices and press around the edges to seal.

Melt butter on griddle over medium-low heat. Dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture for a few seconds on each side. Cook the sandwiches until golden brown, 2 -3 minutes each side. Serve with maple syrup, strawberry syrup, or confectioners' sugar.

Strawberry Syrup:

3 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup granulated sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lemon

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the strawberries are soft and the syrup is thickened and reduced by 1/3 to 1/2 in volume, 15-18 minutes.

Because of my lack of ability (or discipline, aptitude, focus-whatever you want to call it) in following recipes, We made a few of the sandwiches with blueberries and raspberries. They were all delicious. The strawberry sandwich with the strawberry sauce was definitely a sugar overload. If you are diabetic, it could kill you. The raspberries we used were very strong; the flavor overpowered everything else. The blueberry sandwich was really good. The way that the cream cheese interacted with the crispy bread and fruit was a perfect plural marriage.

Have it for dinner, dessert, or both.

Happy Eating.