Challah French Toast

Better than any restaurant's french toast!!

Liquid mixture (let sit overnight if time permits):
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ Tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 ½ Tablespoons sugar
1 large loaf of challah bread -a few days old so that it's firm throughout, sliced 1 inch thick
Vegetable oil for frying


In a shallow dish, combine eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar.

Add oil 1/2" deep to a large skillet or griddle. Preheat over medium heat.

Soak bread on both sides. Place in pan and let cook few minutes until golden brown. Flip bread, cover pan and let cook 1 minute (this ensures the french toast is cooked through and not soggy).

Uncover and let cook another minute or until golden brown.

Remove bread from pan, add additional oil and repeat process with remaining pieces of bread.

Serve hot with butter and maple syrup. Serves 6.

Rugrats in Paris - The Movie (2000)

Ahh Paris, the beautiful city of lights and outstanding dishes. Our Challah French Toast recipe celebrates Paris and our film inspiration, "Rugrats in Paris", adds a fun twist. "Rugrats in Paris" is entertaining for children and adults alike. Challah French Toast is the best French Toast recipe ever, and it will be a breakfast favorite for your whole family. Bon Appetit!

Deluxe Pizza Spaghetti

1 (16 oz.) package spaghetti, cooked according to package directions

2 Tbs olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green peppers

3 cloves minced garlic

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 lb sausage (casings removed)

1 -15 oz. can pizza sauce

1 -15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 cup sliced mushrooms

3/4 cup water

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook onions and green pepper until soft. Stir in garlic, ground turkey and sausage. Cook, stirring constantly until cooked through (no longer pink). Drain excess liquid. Add pizza sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, water, salt and pepper. Combine well, reduce to low heat. Let simmer 25 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.

Serve over spaghetti.

Serves 8.

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Our recipe for Deluxe Pizza Spaghetti delivers two great Italian dishes in one, and its two times crazy delicious! Our spotlighted film "My Cousin Vinny" stars Joe Pesci as Vinny and Marisa Tomei (she won the Oscar for this role) plays his girlfriend Mona Lisa. They are two New Yorkers "fish out of water" in Alabama. Lawyer Vinny is attempting to defend his first murder case, and his cousin's life is on the line. Like our Deluxe Pizza Spaghetti and "My Cousin Vinny" you may do a double take at first glance, but you sure will enjoy the ride!

Cheesy Grits and Turkey Bacon Souffle

Wonderful for Breakfast, Brunch or Dinner!

1 cup grits -quick cooking (not instant)

2-1/3 cups water

2 cups milk

3 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 -1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

6 slices crispy turkey bacon cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup egg whites, from 4 eggs

In a saucepan, bring water and milk to a boil over high heat and stir in grits. Return to a boil and reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until grits are smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. Transfer grits to a large bowl and allow to cool. Melt butter in a skillet. Add onion and garlic and saute until softened, about 2 minutes.

When grits have cooled, stir in sauteed onions and season with crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, grated cheese and crumbled bacon.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 inch baking dish. Set aside.

In a large bowl beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Gently mix 1/3rd of the beaten whites into the grit mixture, then fold in remaining whites (do not over mix). Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until golden brown on top. Serves 6.

True Grit (1969)

"True Grit" is a hell of a good western and gave me an appreciation for John Wayne as an actor. He won the coveted Oscar and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. "True Grit" and our recipe for Cheesy Grits and Turkey Bacon Souffle is more than just a play on words, both have down-home goodness and a style all their own.