Breakfast of Champions

Good friends of ours just had twins. They also has a toddler running around. The mom is my heroine. Between nursing the little ones, and running after the big boy, she is probably eating a Thanksgiving Dinner sized meal every couple hours to keep her energy up. And her husband is one of those amazing guys who works hard all day, then comes home and makes amazing meals to pitch in. This week, when I asked her if there was anything I could bring to her on our visit, she responded: I love your caramel-pecan french toast casserole. SCORE! I had been trying hard to think up something to bring her and the family to eat, as they seem to have dinner covered. I was thrilled that I could make her such a yummy treat. Just even the name of this dish is rich and delicious.

It's not hard to make either. It's a make-ahead dish that sits overnight in the fridge so it's terrific for a main dish for breakfast or brunch at your own home. I usually make homemade breakfast sausage patties to go with it. The whole thing is decadent, but SO delicious and it serves a crowd easily. Both recipes come from the America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook Revised Edition.

Just a tip up front: Buy REALLY good bread. If you use bad or stale bread in any casserole or dish, then it ends up tasting bland or stale. Again, I'm partial to ACME Bread Co in Berkeley. I use their sweet batard, but ANY good Italian or French loaf will be good, except baguettes. There is too much crust and not enough soft middle to soak up the egg batter.

The recipes:

Make Ahead French Toast Casserole with Caramel-Pecan Topping
Serves 8 - 12
Total time: 50 minutes + 8 hours chilling + 1 hour baking

Casserole:
1 16 oz loaf Italian or French bread
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
2 cups half & half
1 TBSP sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg

Topping:
12 TBSP (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups packed light brown sugar
3 TBSP corn syrup (note: I use agave syrup)
5 oz pecans, chopped

1. Adjust oven racks to upper & lower-middle positions. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Spread bread in single layer on 2 baking sheets. Bake until dry & golden about 25 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Allow bread to cool.
2. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9 X 13 baking dish (or casserole) with butter. pack bread tightly in 2 layers.
3. whisk together eggs, milk, half & half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg. Pour evenly over the bread.
4. Cover with plastic & chill 8 - 24 hours.
To assemble & bake:
5. Heat oven to 350. Mix butter, brown sugar, corn syrup together until smooth. Add pecans.
6. Remove casserole from fridge & unwrap. Spoon pecan mixture over top and spread in an even layer. Place dish on foil covered rimmed baking sheet, & bake until puffed & golden, about 60 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving.


****Variation:  Run-Raisin Caramel Pecan French Toast (INSANELY rich & delicious)
BEFORE STEP 3: Combine 1 1/2 cups raisins and 1 cup rum in a microwave safe bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, poke several vent holes. Microwave on high until rum boils, 1 - 3 minutes, then set aside for 15 minutes until raisins are plump. Drain thoroughly, discarding rum (or just drink it... ). Proceed with recipe, sprinkling the raisins between the 2 layers of bread


Homemade Breakfast Sausage
Makes: 16 patties
Prep: 5 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

2 lbs ground pork (not extra lean, it will be too crumbly)
1 TBSP maple syrup
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 TBSP salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
4 tsp veg oil

1. Fold all ingredients, except oil, gently with your hands in a bowl. Form 16 patties (about 1/4 cup each).
2. Heat 2 tsp oil in non-stick skillet over med heat until shimmering (do the water drop test... if the water dances on the hot oil, it's ready). Add half the patties, brown on both sides (about 5 min/side). Transfer to paper-towel-lined plate. Wipe out skillet. Repeat with remaining oil & patties.