.strawberry + cream cheese stuffed french toast.

when i asked my eye guy what sounded good for a weekend breakfast, he asked me if i had cereal mind. i do usually have cereal in mind. this time, however, i was offering to cook us a little more involved dish. i expected him to say something like eggs, but french toast with cream cheese and strawberries in between came out. 

'what?! did you just watch an ihope commercial?' 

luckily, i aim to please. you should too.

chop up fresh strawberries and toss very lightly with sugar. this is breakfast after all- not dessert. ignore me. toss in as much sugar as your little heart desires. set aside. 

in a bowl, whisk 2 eggs, half a teaspoon of sugar, half a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a teaspoon of cinnamon. this doesn't need to be an exact science...just put a little bit of this and a little bit of that in with your eggs. 

in a small saucepan, heat 3 to 4 heaping tablespoons of cream cheese over low heat. heating the cream cheese makes for a smoother, soft texture. 

after dipping and then dripping your bread in the egg mixture, add them to a medium-high griddle with some already melted butter. this is where the magic happens. 

(there should be enough egg mixture leftover to do another set.)

now that your strawberries are getting juicy, add most of them to your cream cheese and softly mix. if you mix with a vengeance, you'll tear up too many strawberries. leaving some chunks in is what makes this dish legit. 

oops! you haven't burned your french toast have you with all that talk of strawberries and cream cheese? don't forget to flip them. 

 your strawberries and cream cheese are by now a pink medley, ready to spread. take half of your mixture and get to work. 

the stuffed portion of this process comes by layering another piece of french toast on top of the other with a stuffing of strawberries and cream cheese between. thank goodness you have me around to explain this intricate process. 

top with a few of your remaining strawberries. if you're freeling fuity, (help me.) drizzle some caramel sauce on top before you add your traditional syrup. it's a world gone mad. mad i tell ya! 

time to go back to the stove to do it all over again. you didn't think my eye guy was the only one eating this sinful breakfast, did you? 

truly unbelievable taste. you better believe it. 

strawberries and cream cheese stuffed french toast

serves 2

what you'll need

4 pieces of bread

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp of sugar for toast

1-2 tbs butter

1 tbs sugar for strawberries

3-4 heaping tbs cream cheese

1 cup chopped fresh strawberries

caramel sauce (optional)

syrup

what you do

chop fresh strawberries, toss in a tablespoon of sugar and set aside. heat cream cheese over low heat until smooth. 

whisk eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and 1/2 tsp sugar in a bowl. heat a griddle or skillet to medium high (around 375 degrees). melt 1 tbs of butter on griddle. 

dip bread in egg mixture and let drip over bowl so that there isn't excess moisture on the bread. toast on griddle until golden and flip. voila- french toast!

mix the majority of your strawberries in with the cream cheese over low heat. spread the mixture on a finished piece of french toast and then top with another. you now have stuffed french toast. add a few more strawberries to the top and drizzle caramel and syrup if your heart desires. 

repeat the process again for a second serving.

enjoy!