Helena Fairfax

In the run up to the holidays I’m sharing a whole feast of recipes, and I’ll be hosting lots of the authors who collaborated on our Bake, Love, Write dessert recipe book (buy links below).

Today author Victoria Adams is here with her own personal favourite holiday dish.

Thanks for coming all the way to Yorkshire, Victoria!

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Hello everyone, I’m happy to be here today. I live in Ontario, Canada with my husband and pets. Daughter’s grown up and is now teaching. I like to garden, cook and belly dance. In the summer, cars slow down when they pass my front yard and the passengers gaze at my flower beds. Friends love to be invited over for supper as the meal is going to be good – good for you and nowhere near low-calorie! (see recipe.) As to belly dancing, find a class and try it. It’s a blast!

I’ve been writing since I was little. Being an only child, long car rides were filled with making up stories in my head about the people I saw out the car window. When my daughter was younger, I made up stories that she suggested. I’d say – Once upon a time there was a…. She’d shout an answer – chicken! And the story went from there with my daughter offering weird and wonderful prompts. Great creativity exercise as it turns out. Now, my writing style has taken a split to contemporary romance for adults and contemporary romance for new adults.

I’ve brought a wonderful French Toast recipe and my latest, an NA contemporary romance – A Guy and A Girl.

Maple French Toast with Brown Butter for 3

Unfortunately this isn’t a quick morning breakfast. This requires a bit of effort, so keep it for special mornings – Christmas morning, anniversary, your birthday, my birthday. Once you get the hang of this, you’ll look for excuses.

Note – best if marinated overnight or at least let sit an hour so egg can soak into bread (besides, you need time to make the Brown Butter)

3 eggs

1/2 cup maple syrup (the real stuff!)

1/3 cup milk (at least 2%) (British note: use at least semi-skimmed)

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp salt

Bread slices (any kind will do, but thick crusty bread seems to work best)

In a bowl – obviously – mix eggs to salt. Place 6 bread slices in a large flat dish (I use my lasagna pan) and pour the egg mixture over. Cover and refrigerate.

Next day – Heat skillet. (Fellow Brits – the frying pan.) Melt butter (be generous with butter). Place bread slices in melted butter. Check – when brown, flip over and cook other side. Serve with bacon, orange juice, glass of milk, cup of coffee, flute of champagne….

Suggested Toppings

Brown Butter and Maple Syrup

Whipped Cream Sprinkled with Cinnamon

Fresh Berries with Brown Butter and Maple Syrup

Fresh Berries with Whipped Cream

Brown Butter (this is fabulous)

1 stick of softened butter – not margarine – cut in half (or 2 1/4 cups of butter) (For British bakers: 1 stick = 4 oz/110gsm, so therefore you’ll need 2 x 2oz/105gsm)

In a sauté pan, melt 1/2 stick of butter (2oz/105gsm). Watch carefully and when it browns remove from heat, pour into a bowl and cool to room temperature. Just before serving the French Toast, stir the brown butter into the other half of the stick of butter (the other 2oz/105gsm). Then dollop onto warm toast. (Try this on your bagel, your morning toast – it’s unbelievably yummy.)

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A Guy and a Girl

Lies, deceits and secrets – not a good way to begin a relationship.

Blurb

After an ugly past forced Hunter Connolly to escape to Europe, the talented hockey player is back in North America and determined to land a position with a professional team. But he can’t hide from his past forever, especially when his beautiful classmate, Chelsea, forces him to reexamine his life. Soon, hockey is not his first priority anymore.

Chelsea Henderson is a bright co-ed working towards her dream of being a professional dancer. She forms a unique friendship with one of her father’s newest recruits and would love nothing more than to take it to the next level. However, there’s just one small problem. He doesn’t know she’s his coach’s daughter.

Amid the deceptions, danger lurks closer than they could ever imagine. Will fate contrive to rip the young lovers apart? Or will Hunter and Chelsea have their shot at love?

Amazon US and Amazon UK links

For a Free Read, visit Victoria Adams’s blog

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What a delicious recipe, Victoria! French toast is one of my daughter’s favourites, but I would never have thought of trying it with brown butter. It sounds fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing!

If you’ve enjoyed Victoria’s recipe, you can find lots more like this in our Bake, Love, Write recipe book, which is available in paperback on Amazon US and also on Amazon UK, and also in Kindle format.

And I think after trying all these recipes, I’m going to need those belly dancing lessons! :)

If you’ve enjoyed hearing from Victoria, or have any questions or comments at all, please let us know. We’d love to hear from you!