Foodie Friday – French Toast

French toast is a simple snack, but one that has caused many discussions between my friends and me over the years!

In a nutshell, French Toast – sometimes referred to as Eggy Bread – is bread, dipped in beaten egg and shallow fried. It’s that simple! A quick and easy snack, that can be made from what you have lying around the kitchen, no need for any fancy shopping lists or ingredients. It really is a perfect snack.

So, why does something so simple, cause so many discussions? Well, for me, French Toast has always been a savoury dish – served with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, a dash of worcester sauce or a dollop of brown sauce.

You can even take it to the next level, and dip your cheese sandwich in the egg, for a delightful cross between French Toast and Grilled Cheese. But a lot of people seem to have this as a sweet dish instead, dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled in syrup or, as in The Sims 4, made with the addition of fruit. To me, that is just wrong on so many levels, but I guess it’s what you’re used to! And the sims do have a sneaky savoury option, as it uses any fruit in your inventory – including tomatoes!

So, sweet or savoury, how do you like yours? Let us know in the comments and poll below!

About French Toast

French toast, also known as eggy bread, gypsy toast, or omelette bread is a dish of bread soaked in beaten eggs and then fried.
When French toast is served as a sweet dish, milk, sugar, vanilla or cinnamon are also commonly added before pan-frying, and then it may be topped with sugar (often powdered sugar), butter, fruit, or syrup. When it is a savory dish, it is generally fried with a pinch of salt, and can then be served with a sauce such as ketchup or mayonnaise.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_toast

French Toast in The Sims

French Toast was first introduced in The Sims 3 basegame and it required the massive cooking level of 9, such a high level that some Simmers may have missed this food recipe! It also required 2 Apples and 1 Egg.

In The Sims 4 you can also make French Toast and it just requires cooking level 5 and 1 fruit. As tomato is technically also a fruit you can make a savoury version! Also, trash fruit is a fruit… as Tmarie on the official forums found out the hard way, french toast made with trash fruit gives you an uncomfortable Sim.

Classic Savoury French Toast

Ingredients
Serves: 2
3 to 4 medium eggs
300ml semi-skimmed milk
2 pinches salt (optional)
1 tablespoon cracked pepper (optional)
100 to 200ml oil
4 thick slices bread
Method
Crack the eggs in a dish large enough to lay the bread in flat.
Add the milk and salt and pepper, if using, and mix well until fully blended.
Turn on your hob and heat some of the oil gently in a frying pan or griddle pan until hot. I find a griddle pan easier as the bread does not stick as much.
Meanwhile, pile up the slices of bread in the egg mixture and soak them until all the egg is gone.
Now the pan is hot, place the bottom piece of bread onto the pan. Continually move it around so that it doesn’t stick. If the pan is smoking, it’s either too hot or there isn’t enough oil.
Continue to cook until each side is slightly brown. The less you cook the bread the more eggy it will taste.
Tip: You can have this instead of fatty fried bread in your fry up, but be careful as it is very filling!!
Tip: You can also add crispy bacon and maple syrup if you want to make it an American treat.
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/23270/my-savoury-french-toast.aspx

Classic Sweet French Toast Recipe

Ingredients
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter
4 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 slices challah, brioche, or white bread
1/2 cup maple syrup, warmed
Method
In a small bowl, combine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar and set aside briefly.
In a 10-inch or 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
Whisk together cinnamon mixture, eggs, milk, and vanilla and pour into a shallow container such as a pie plate.
Dip bread in egg mixture.
Fry slices until golden brown, then flip to cook the other side.
Serve with syrup.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robert-irvine/french-toast-recipe.html

Grilled Cheese French Toast

Ingredients
4 slices bread
1 tbsp (15 mL) Dijon mustard
4 slices Cheddar cheese or Swiss cheese
2 eggs
1/4 cup (60 mL) milk
Pinch salt
Pinch pepper
2 tsp (10 mL) butter
1 tsp (5 mL) vegetable oil
Method
Lay bread slices on counter.
Divide mustard equally among slices; spread evenly with knife.
Place 2 slices of cheese on 2 of the bread slices; cover with remaining slices of bread, mustard-side down. Press together lightly.
Break eggs into bowl; whisk until yolk and white are blended.
Whisk in milk, salt and pepper.
Lay 1 sandwich in egg mixture.
Using both lifters, one under and one on top, turn sandwich to soak both sides.
Place on sheet of waxed paper.
Repeat with second sandwich, letting it soak up all the remaining egg mixture.
Place skillet over medium heat; add butter and oil, swirling to coat surface.
Lay sandwiches in skillet; cook for about 3 minutes or until golden brown underneath.
Using both lifters, one under and one on top, turn each sandwich.
Cook for about 3 minutes longer or until golden brown underneath and cheese is melted and oozy.
http://www.canadianliving.com/food/grilled_cheese_french_toast.php