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Cherry-Stuffed French Toast
with Cherry Sauce -
Makes 4 servings.
1 package (10 oz.) frozen dark
cherries, defrosted
1/2 cup dark cherry (sugar-free) fruit spread
2 tsp. cornstarch, dissolved in 1 Tbsp. cold water
1/3 cup dried sour cherries
1/3 cup apple juice
8 slices whole-wheat bread
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
3/4 cup skim (fat-free) milk
1 tsp. grated orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. canola oil
Place defrosted cherries in
a blender or food processor and reduce to a rough purée.
Transfer to a small saucepan, mix in the jam and bring the mixture
to a boil over medium heat. Stir cornstarch/water mixture to
recombine and stir into the cherry mix. Reduce heat to a simmer
and cook until mixture thickens. Remove from heat, cover and
set aside while making French Toast. (The sauce can be made a
few days in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.)
Combine dried cherries and apple
juice in a small bowl. When the fruit is plump, squeeze out excess
moisture and coarsely chop. Set aside fruit and discard the juice.
Using a small, round cookie
cutter (or fingers), remove the centers from bread slices, leaving
about a 1/2-inch of bread inside the crust. Transfer slices to
a shallow, flat container. Tear the circles into small pieces
and place in a mixing bowl. Mix in the chopped cherries.
In a separate bowl, beat the
eggs, then whisk in milk, zest, and vanilla. Pour half over the
bread/cherry mixture and mix with a fork until combined. Pour
the remaining egg mixture over the bread slices, and let stand
until liquid is absorbed.
Heat oil in a large nonstick
skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the bread slices.
(If the skillet holds less that 8 slices, cook the French Toast
in batches, keeping each batch warm until all are cooked.) Fill
in the empty centers of bread slices with spoonfuls of the filling,
pressing down with the back of the spoon to firmly pack the mixture.
Brown the bread on one side, 3 to 4 minutes, then carefully turn
to brown the second side. Meanwhile, heat cherry sauce over low
heat until very warm. Serve French Toast with the warmed sauce.
Per serving: 441 calories, 12
g. total fat (2 g. saturated fat), 72 g. carbohydrate, 13 g.
protein, 6 g. dietary fiber, 390 mg. sodium. |