French Toast made with Panera Bread

Recently I went to Panera and placed an order for fresh bread for a sponsored post I did on Instagram.  I was given a gift card to purchase the bread. They were out of the bread I ordered online. They gave me Challah bread instead and told me people liked it for French toast. So what did I do? I went home and made some French Toast and let me tell you, it was amazing! Thanks Panera for such a good idea.

French Toast Made with Panera Bread

Author: Jennifer Crowther

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 5 Min Cook time: 6 Minutes 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 fresh bread loaf, Challah bread from Panera, cut in to 6-8 pieces
• 1 large egg
• 2 Tbs salted butter melted
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbs sugar
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat skillet over medium heat for 5 minutes
2. Beat egg
3. Whisk in butter, milk and vanilla
4. Whisk in sugar, flour and salt
5. Cook on each side until golden brown
6. Serve with your favorite toppings

*Any bread will do

*I used strawberries, whipped cream and powered sugar for toppings

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The Perfect Avocado, Ham, Tomato and Cheese Grilled Panini

Grilled panini's are one of favorite lunch items to make.  I like them ten times better than plain turkey and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Want to know the secret ingredient? Believe it or not it's not the panini press, they can be made without, it is fresh bread.  I've tried to make panini's with bread from a loaf, but it does not work, it does not taste the same.  It does not get as flat either. I really like using the avocado and stone ground mustard in the panini instead of regular mayonnaise and mustard. The avocado provides a spread inside, and is much healthier than mayonnaise and the stone ground mustard  provides a depth of flavor with a hint of sweetness.

Acocado, Ham, Tomato, and Cheese Grilled Panini

Author: Jennifer Crowther

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 5 Min Cook time: 5 Min

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 fresh bread loaf
• stone ground mustard
• 1 avocado
• 2 slices ham
• 4-5 slices of cheese
• canola oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Slice the fresh bread into panini slices. Cut the loaf the width of the panini's. Cut four slices from the cut loaf.
2. Slice and add the avocado on one side and spread the stone ground mustard on the other.
3. Put on the cheese, turkey and tomato slices. Place the two halves together.
4. Turn the burner on a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cover the pan with a thin film of oil.
5. This step is important, Using a pastry brush coat one side of the panini.
6. When the pan is hot, the oil starts to smoke, place the coated side of the panini on the skillet.
7. Coat the other side of the panini.
8. Cook 3-5 minutes per side or until golden brown, pressing down with a panini press or a heavy pan. Enjoy!

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