ce mercredi je mange ... du pain perdu

If you wanted to make a delicious, easy and ultra traditionally French snack for tea time or for a dessert then you could whip this one up in just a few minutes, and I bet you already have the ingredients in your kitchen!  

Those of you in America may often eat this for breakfast, under the name French Toast, but here in France it is the most traditional snack for children at tea time, and is now often found on restaurant menus, served as dessert accompanied by a delicious fruit compote.  I think it's best with cherries.

Le Pain Perdu is quite simply slices of slightly stale soft white bread or brioche, soaked in egg, sugar and milk mix, then lightly fried in butter.  I like mine sprinkled with a little cinnamon.

2 cups / 1/2 litre milk

2 eggs

1/4 cup / 50g sugar

2 soup spoons vanilla sugar

1/2 cup / 100g butter

6 slices of soft white bread or brioche

nutmeg/cinnamon optional

icing sugar

To make this family favourite,  simply slice your bread or brioche into thick slices and lay them in a shallow dish.  In a bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla sugar.  Pour the mix over the slices of bread and wait for a few minutes while the liquid is soaking in.

When you're ready, heat the butter gently in a wide skillet.  Gently lift the bread out of the bowl, let it drain a few seconds then lie in the foaming butter.  At this point you can sprinkle some spices if you wish.

When your slices are golden on each side, remove from the pan, layout onto a serving plate and sprinkle with icing sugar.

Totally yummy with a hot chocolate, an old time treat for tea!

Bon appetit!