For Natalie...My Overnite French Toast!

I promised my dear friend Natalie that I would publish this recipe. This is my most favorite french toast recipe because when you dig down far enough, the cherries taste like candy.

Overnite French Toast

6 Tablespoons butter

1-1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup dried cherries or cranberries

1 long loaf of French bread, thick sliced

6 large eggs

2 cups milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped walnuts or pecans

Melt butter and mix with brown sugar. Stir until moistened. Press sugar and butter mixture onto the bottom of a 13"x9" glass baking dish. (It's ok if mixture doesn't cover bottom.) Spread dried cherries or cranberries over butter and sugar mixture. Top with bread slices.

In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Slowly pour this mixture over bread and press bread down to absorb egg mixture. Sprinkle with nuts.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnite.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove plastic wrap from dish and bake uncovered, 45-50 minutes or until bread is golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Now, because I don't know how to behave in following any instructions, I "always" have to twist a recipe to make it "mine". In doing this, here at The Pfeiffer Cottage Inn, we put a bit of liquor and/or chocolate into every meal. Well, not every meal but heck we sure try to.

So, instead of vanilla in this recipe, we use Pear Liqueur from Clear Creek Distillery in Portland. Shave a little semi-sweet chocolate on top before serving and you have the perfect breakfast! Served with an egg scramble of green onions, farmer's market fresh eggs and a little grated parmesano reggiano, sided with a bowl of fresh cantaloupe and you might be seated at our dining table enjoying breakfast at our inn!

Have fun making this yummy breakfast for your family Natalie. And when you find that sweet candied cherry at the bottom, think of me. Love you my sweet friend!