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This month: Banana Surprise French Toast from Seven Hills Market

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Karri Peifer
Richmond.com
Thursday, November 29, 2007

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

How many times have you heard that? For generations, mothers have force-fed that line to kids, along with runny eggs, soggy cereal and frozen waffles. The saying was even repeated by the working moms of our generation as they stuffed Pop Tarts in backpacks and substituted coffee for their own breakfast.

And it didn't stop with moms.

Dieticians, health experts and doctors all urge Americans to start the day with a balanced meal while at the same time reporting that fewer and fewer of us are actually eating one. The experts claim that eating breakfast increases strength, endurance and a positive attitude. It replenishes blood glucose levels, promotes a healthy lifestyle and, most importantly, can help dieters lose weight and keep it off.

Still, most young adults would rather sleep in than eat in the morning. We all know that we should eat breakfast, but few of us do.

Well, if the advice of doctors and dieticians isn't enough to motivate you to add a little nosh to your morning routine then maybe this will. It's a little known fact that when sumo wrestlers want to bulk up and pack on the pounds, the first thing they do is stop eating breakfast.

Pretty alarming, isn't it.

I certainly found it enlightening enough to start choking down a granola bar in the morning. But the best way to start a new routine and make it a habit is to make it fun. Or, in the case of food, make it yummy.

Seven Hills Market, South Richmond's favorite caterer, boxed lunch provider and wine shop, has an inventive take on a breakfast classic. Its Banana Surprise French Toast is a delicious and surprisingly easy to make breakfast treat. It makes a terrific holiday brunch, Sunday breakfast or even (gasp) pre-work meal. And it's a tasty way to get back on the breakfast bandwagon.

Banana Surprise French Toast

INGREDIENTS:
1 loaf challa bread
2 to 4 bananas
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp banana extract (or to taste)
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup sugar
4 eggs
Butter for pan
Pancake Syrup
Nutella

DIRECTIONS:
Prepare bread by piercing it lengthwise with a thin knife. Insert banana (you can also cut the loaf in half and do this step in two stages). Don't make the hole too big, or the banana will be loose within the slices. Slice bread in 3/4 inch slices.

Mix half and half, sugar, spices and extracts. Blend. Add eggs, blend (if you add cinnamon to eggs first it clumps).

Dip sliced bread in egg, sauté in a generous amount of butter. If you prefer, soak the bread thoroughly, but handle with care because the bread is delicate when soaked. Plan on extra cooking time for soaked slices.

Serve with syrup or, for more luxury, warmed Nutella. Extra sliced banana on top is a nice touch if desired.

w And don't forget, call on Seven Hills Market for all your catering, boxed lunch, gourmet food and wine needs – holiday or otherwise.
Seven Hills Market, 3516 Forest Hill Ave., 233-7445


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