Almond-Crusted French Toast

Slice your crusty (day old preferably) French bread into slices that are about 1 1/2 inches thick.

In a shallow dish whisk together cream, eggs, sugar, extracts and salt until well combined. If you fancy it, throw in a dash of cinnamon!

Fill another shallow dish with your raw almonds. You can buy sliced or, if you have whole almonds, grind them in the food processor until pea sized and smaller.

Next begin heating a heavy bottom pan (I use a cast iron) over medium-low or medium heat. You really want French toast to cook low and slow! Be patient!

Now coat your first couple slices of bread in the cream mixture, both sides. Then dredge them in the almonds (for the almonds, I only do one side, it imparts just the right amount of nutty flavor). Now that the pan is heated add a few tablespoons of the butter and just melt it. Add your custard-soaked bread onto the pan almond side down. Cook about 5 minutes, watching closely to insure the nuts do not get too brown! Nothing is worse than burned nuts. When golden brown turn and cook for another 7 minutes or so. Repeat in batches until done!

Serve with warm, real maple syrup, fresh fruit or an easy fruit compote! The fruit compote will be my next entry! Hope you enjoy!