Easy Eats

Ever wonder what to do with that stale french bread, left over from last night’s dinner that now feels more like concrete than food? Make real french toast (or Pain Perdu)! Trust me, it’s twice as good as the stuff you make from WonderBread. And it’s even better with stale bread than fresh.

Ingredients:

• Stale French Bread (I used 1/4 of a large baguette)
• Vegetable Oil (enought to make a thin layer covering the bottom of the pan you’re using)
• 2 eggs
• Splash of milk, or 1/8th cup (any kind, I used skim)
• Pancake or Maple Syrup (optional)
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Directions:

1. If the bread is not cut already, put it into the microwave, wrapped in a damp paper towel, for 30 seconds. It should be soft enough to cut now, while it is still warm.
2. Cut up bread into 3/4″ thick slices.
3. Beat up the 2 eggs in a wide container that can fit all the bread in. I used a small square baking pan. Add a splash of milk to thin it out and add some creaminess.
4. Pour oil into a wide frying pan. Don’t be shy with it, you want to cover the whole bottom.
5. Heat pan on medium-high.
6. While it is heating up, soak the bread in the eggs for 30 seconds on each side. Get them nice and soaked.
7. When the oil is hot (you can see it shimmering), add in the soaked bread. You should see the eggs sizzle.
8. Using tongs, turn the bread over once when the it is nice and golden brown on the bottom.
9. Remove from pan
10. Add your choice of syrups and/or powdered sugar. I didn’t have any powdered sugar, so I just used plain pancake syrup.

(click to enlarge)

Cost:
Considering you were probably going to throw out the stale bread anyways, I’d say 50 cents, mainly for the eggs. This is cheap eats!

Comments:
If done right, the outside will be golden and crispy, while the inside will be moist and soft. Yum. I didn’t add any salt because usually French bread is already a bit salty. I don’t know exactly why, but it really does taste better with stale bread than fresh bread. Of course I usually make this for breakfast or brunch, but it’s always a good time for French toast! Never throw away stale bread again!