Rise & Shine!  It’s Monday again.  What are you looking forward to this week?  Me…I’m looking forward to a visit from my Mom.  All I have to do is make it until Wednesday!  🙂 

While we are on the top of “rising and shining” and starting a new day, I wanted to share with you a great Saturday morning we shared with our friends Delaney & Joe and their 2 children, Liv and Nash.  As a child, there were many mornings that my Dad would walk into our bedroom, snap open the shade and yell, “Rise & Shine!”  My sister and I didn’t appreciate it much at the time but he found it hysterical.  Looking back, it was quite funny and something we certainly will never forget.  But with guests staying with us this past weekend, I didn’t think it would be appropriate to wake them in such a manner.  Instead I thought, how about a sweet treat of a breakfast.

This weekend was their first trip to Iowa and we were so excited to have them here.  We wanted to treat them as much as possible. 

So, we started with some Bochner chocolates & a note for Delaney & Joe and some small gifts for Liv & Nash. 

After all, the kids had just survived a 5 hour car-ride and what child doesn’t love a surprise present!  A girly pink Iowa t-shirt for Liv & some Iowa balls for Nash. 

Next up, some special coffee from the Hound’s Tooth, an adorable gift shop in Coralville.  Jamaican Me Crazy, recommended by my friend Jeremy, was great!  The aroma was awesome!  Even I (not much of a coffee drinker) had to have a cup or 2. 

And finally, a new recipe, Strawberry & Peaches Oven Baked French Toast.  Caution:  it’s a sweet one! 

STRAWBERRY & PEACHES OVEN BAKED FRENCH TOAST w/Fluffy Whipped Cream

Adapted from a recipe by Byerlys

• 4 Eggs, beaten
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 1 Tsp Grated Orange Peel
• 1/2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon
• 14 Diagonal Slices French Bread (~1 inch thick)
• Melted Butter/Margarine
• Maple Syrup
• Strawberries/Peaches, sliced
• 1/3 cup Powdered Sugar
• 1/4 cup Reduced Fat Sour Cream
• 1 Cup Whipped Topping

The night before you want to serve this tasty breakfast, prep the french toast.  In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, orange peel and cinnamon.  Arrange bread slices on a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan (x2).  Pour egg mixture over bread and let stand until partially absorbed.  Turn slices over and allow bread to completely absorb the remaining mixture.  Place in freezer, uncovered, until firm (~1hr).  Using a wide spatula, loosen slices from pan.  Place slices in freezer storage bag; seal and freeze until needed.

In the morning, pull out the slices and you are ready to bake!   Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Grease a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan (x2). Arrange slices on pans.  Brush the top side of each slice with melted margarine.  Bake 8 minutes.  Turn slices; brush again with margarine.  Continue baking until lightly browned (~8 minutes).

While the french toast is baking, prepare the Fluffy Whipped Cream.  Combine powdered sugar and sour cream.  Fold in whipped topping.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Remove french toast from the oven and top with maple Syrup, fluffy whipped topping, and fruit! 

A special breakfast for special friends!  We are so grateful for their visit. 

I will share more from our weekend together as the week goes on.  Enjoy your Monday!

Indulge.  In Life.  In Love.  In Food.