Comfort Food

Every now & then you just want a quick easy snack just to comfort yourself, or indulge. This is one of those recipes - & I use the term recipe loosely, as there is nothing precise or structured about it. It just sort of came together in the most unexpected way. I was thinking as to what to create for this months Paper Chef entry. The ingredients were Bread, Chocolate, Berries, & Lime. Simple, compatible. But leading to too many choices! With time running short I went with instinct & this was the result: Chocolate French Toast with Berry syrup & Lime Cream.

the combination of the slightly bitter chocolate (70%), sweet berry syrup & tangy Lime cream worked a treat, leaving me wanting more.

Ingredients:

white bread, slices about 1cm thick

dark chocolate (70%)

cinnamon

egg

cream

lime

frozen mixed berries

sugar

Strawberry liqueur (optional) or water

icing sugar

oil

butter

Method:

Beat the egg with some cream or milk & cinnamon.

Place a block or 2 (depending on size) between two slices of bread & soak in the egg mixture.

place about a tablespoon of sugar & a tablespoon of liqueur in a small saucepan & heat until the sugar is dissolved & starting to bubble, then add the frozen berries & turn the heat to low, & allow to warm through.

Gently heat the oil in a fry pan

Zest the lime into the cream, add a little sugar & whip.

turn up the heat & add some butter to the oil & allow to melt.
Fry the egg soaked chocolate bread sandwich until golden brown then carefully flip to fry the other side. The chocolate would have started to melt so be careful flipping it so that you don't dislodge the bread.

Place onto paper towel to absorb excess oil then onto a serving plate, dust with icing sugar, & serve with the berry syrup & lime cream.

Very comforting & moreish.