Grilled, Stuffed French Toast with Blackberry Sauce

In a medium sized bowl mix cream cheese, cinnamon, sugar and syrup with a hand mixer until combined. Set aside.

Carefully hollow out each bread slice, working from one side of the slice and making a pocket. Leave the other side intact and try to keep the removed bread as much together, as possible, as you will be using it to cap the other side, once stuffed.

Stuff bread with the cream cheese mixture and top the open side with the removed bread.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla and put the bread slices in the egg mixture. Soak bread for one minute on each side.

In the meantime heat the butter and canola oil in a grill pan on medium high heat. Add bread in a single layer and grill on all four sides for approximately one minute for each side. You should have dark grill marks on the bread. Remove French toast to a plate and serve with warm fruit sauce.

For the fruit sauce: Add the butter into a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted add the berries and sugar. Bring to a slow boil then continue to simmer on low for 5 minutes until slightly reduced.

And yeah, whipped cream on top would be acceptable, too. Serves 4.