Food Flare Ontario Style

THUNDER BAY – Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Yet for many, coffee and getting going is all we get. Our friends at Foodland Ontario offer a French Toast Grilled Cheese and Apple sandwich that looks so good that chances are you might think it should be on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with the kind of flare that Guy Fieri brings to food.

In this “grilled cheese and apple sandwich meets French toast,” thin slices of apples are wedged between two slices of cheese and bread.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients:
8 slices (1/2-inch/1 cm) day-old sourdough, French or Italian bread
8 slices medium Ontario Cheddar Cheese
2 Ontario McIntosh or Empire Apples, thinly sliced
3 Ontario Eggs
3/4 cup (175 mL) Ontario Milk
2 tbsp (25 mL) granulated sugar
1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla
2 tbsp (25 mL) butter
Ontario Maple Syrup
Preparation Instructions:
Place 4 slices of the bread on work surface and top each with 1 slice of cheese. Place even layer of apples on cheese, then top with second cheese slice. Cover with remaining slices of bread to make 4 sandwiches.

In medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Pour into a shallow dish large enough to hold 1 sandwich.

In large nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium heat.

Dip sandwich into egg mixture, turning to soak (don’t oversoak). Add 2 sandwiches to the skillet at a time and cook until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Cut in half and serve with maple syrup.

Tip: One or two-day-old stale bread is ideal for French toast as fresh bread absorbs too much liquid, making it soggy.

Nutritional Information:
1 Serving:
Protein: 24 grams
Fat: 25 grams
Carbohydrate: 66 grams
Calories: 588
Fibre: 4 grams
Sodium: 850 mg