25
Foodie Friday: Challah If You Love French Toast!
In my house, there is only one way to make french toast. With Challah bread.
Challah bread is a traditional Jewish bread that is usually served on Shabbat. You can usually find this type of bread in the bakery section of most major grocery stores, however they may call it “braided egg bread.” I don’t usually buy Challah at the grocery store since I have a few local bakeries that bake delicious Challah bread. Check in with your local bakery before heading to the grocery store. It makes a big difference.
If I’m planning on preparing my Challah french toast on a Sunday morning, I buy the bread on Friday. It’s best to to use 1-2 day old bread for this recipe. Just keep in mind that if you’re buying Challah bread on Shabbat, you may want to call ahead to order in advance.
Ingredients:
- One loaf of Challah Bread (10-12 slices)
- 6 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups of milk. I use low-fat, skim, or light soy milk.
- 4 tablespoons of honey
- 4 tablespoons of orange juice
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon of kosher/sea salt
- Cinnamon, optional
- 4 tablespoons of butter for grilling purposes only
(Click on pics to expand)
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- image from The Daily World Buzz
Make sure to have a 10-inch non-stick pan and a cooling rack over a baking sheet ready.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine the eggs, milk, honey, orange juice, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl and whisk well. Dip a slice of bread in the mixture and coat well on each side. Allow the bread to soak for about 30 seconds and then place the battered slice of bread on the cooling rack. Once all the bread slices have been coated, start heating up the griddle pan.
Over a medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan. Place up to three bread slices in the pan but just make sure they can all fit. Cook each slice until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes for each side. Remove from pan and place back on the cooling rack. Once all the slices have been cooked and placed back on the cooling rack, put the baking pan in the oven for about 8-10 minutes. Serve with REAL maple syrup and fresh fruit. I like my french toast with either mixed berries and/or slices of banana.
Bon Appétit
Edited on 6/29/10 to add: Rachel from Peanut Couture informed me about a great recipe she has for a baked challah french toast casserole and I asked her for the recipe. See below in the comments section for the recipe. I haven’t tried it out yet, but doesn’t it sound delicious?
23
Let’s Talk About Lead: What Every Parent Needs To Know
I was recently contacted on behalf of the Ad Council, the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, the Environmental Protection Agency and Housing And Urban Development (HUD) in the hope to help spread more awareness about lead-based poisoning. These four agencies have joined forces to create a new website devoted to the dangers of lead. It’s called Lead Free Kids and I urge every parent and caretaker to check it out to learn more.
Lead is a very toxic metal that affects more than one million children today. It can be especially harmful for children under the age of six. It’s important for every parent and caretaker to know the dangers associated with lead, where to look for it, and the symptoms of lead poisoning.
Where lead can be found:
- If you live in a house or apartment that was built before 1978, there is a very good chance that it was originally painted with lead-based paint. This is important to know because even though there may be several layers of new paint over the original paint, paint chips and dust from deteriorating paint may contain lead.
- Lead can be found in the soil around your home and in your drinking water.
- You can also find lead in older playground equipment, artificial turf made from rubber, and older or antique toys.
- Although there is a U.S. ban on the use of lead in the manufacturing of children’s products that does not mean that all toys and other children’s products are guaranteed safe. There have been recent recalls associated with lead in certain toys, jewelery, and other products for children. Keep an eye out for all recalls, including children’s products at www.recalls.gov.
Symptoms of lead-poisoning in children: (continues…)
20
The Good Dad
The best moments in life are not filled with words. Only love. The Dude and The Monkey, on vacation, in 2008.
Seven years ago, this week, I was introduced to the Dude by my sister.
Before I met him, there was a trend with most of the guys I dated. The more I got to know them, the less I liked them. The opposite was true with the Dude. After every e-mail, phone call, or date, I liked him even more. Within a month, I knew this guy had *The One* potential. But what really locked my heart up was something he said to me shortly after we started dating.
During one of our many conversations about life ambitions, goals, and dreams, the Dude mentioned that he could not wait to be a father. That really floored me, mostly because having kids was the last thing on my mind. I had too many other important things to do, like finish my graduate degree and get a promotion. But here was this highly ambitious and successful 26 year old man telling me that the most important thing he ever wanted to become was a good dad. In that same conversation, he questioned how he would be able to handle the task of working grueling hours at a law firm and being present for his future kids. He wanted to be there for every milestone, every first day of school, every parent-teacher meeting, and every soccer game. In fact, he wanted to coach the soccer team. He told me right then and there that he would quit his job if it meant he couldn’t be there for his kids. Despite not knowing him very well at the time, I believed him. Seven years and one kid later, I still believe him. Because it’s true. (continues…)
14
Mental Monday: Extreme Encouragement
photo from NY Daily News
Before I left my teen years behind, I had three speeding tickets, one solo trip to Spain for a summer, and had jumped out of an airplane. To say I was adventurous (and obviously even reckless at times) is an understatement. I lived for an adrenaline-rush. I craved adventure. I occasionally attempted death-defying activities. I give thanks every day that I made it out of my teen years alive.
My parents didn’t encourage any of these activities. In fact, they made it a point to strongly discourage me. I give them most of the credit for helping me enter adulthood safe and sound.
When I read about 16 year old Abby Sunderland and her extreme goal to sail around the world solo, her behavior and drive didn’t really surprise me. Many, if not most, teenagers are adventurous and crave adrenaline-inducing activities. Many teenagers believe they have the maturity, skills, knowledge, and wisdom of most adults. If not more! Many teenagers believe they are indestructible and live their lives as if harm nor death can ever touch them. It takes a while for them to understand otherwise.
There is a developmental reason why teenagers still need parenting and guidance, especially when they are more inclined to risky and carefree behavior. Teenagers often lack the cognitive ability to make good decisions. Why? Because the adolescent brain is not yet fully developed. Research shows that the prefrontal cortex region of the brain, the area that processes complex cognitive functioning, behaviors, and decision-making skills, is the last part of the brain to mature. The prefrontal cortex, which handles planning, setting priorities, social behavior, weighing consequences, and suppressing impulses, is not fully developed until about the age of 25. (continues…)
11
Foodie Friday: The Grown-Up Version Of A Hot Dog
Hot dogs are easily one of the favorite food staples for kids, but sometimes even adults get a craving for a good ol’ hot dog. However, unless I’m at the ball park or passing a hot dog cart in NYC (what is it about those NYC hot dogs?!?) I prefer my hot dogs to be a bit more, shall we say, sophisticated. This means, I like alcohol to be involved.
Instead of buying a package of Hebrew National hot dogs, I either head down to my local butcher or to the grocery store to buy a package of sausages. If you’re buying pre-packed sausages, I have a few favorites. Try the Chicken & Apple from Aidells or the Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage from Trader Joe’s. Both are excellent. You can buy these ahead of time and freeze them since this recipe actually works best with frozen sausage.
This is what you need for the rest of the recipe:
Serves 4
1 package of 4 sausages
2 12oz. bottles of dark ale/beer
1 large white onion (cut into rings)
4 good quality buns (I like the small square or round sourdough rolls from Trader Joe’s)
1 bottle of good quality mustard. Save the French’s Mustard for the kids.
I like to make these adult hot dogs with a side of flavorful grilled veggies. Our favorite veggies to grill are zucchini, asparagus, and eggplant. Simply cut or slice the veggies and brush them with olive oil. Sprinkle on fresh ground pepper, sea salt, lemon pepper, red chili pepper, and garlic powder. Throw on the grill along with the sausages.
Sausage Recipe: (continues…)