Brown Sugar Crusted French Toast

This is not your everyday french toast. This isn't that french toast you get from the freezer sections and pop in the toaster on a busy Monday morning. This is a custardy on the inside with a sugary crust on the outside. Top it all off with fruit and powdered sugar and you have a french toast worthy of Mother's Day breakfast.

      Ingredients:

• A few slices of stale bread (should be only a day or two old) 
• 4 eggs
• 3-4 tablespoons of half-and-half or heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• a few tablespoons of butter
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• salt
• berries and whipped cream for garnish (optional)

      Recipe: Yield 2-3 slices of toast

1. Whisk egg, cream, vanilla, salt and 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon in a shallow bowl. 
2. Dip stale bread in the mixture. Let sit for 20-30 minutes in the fridge at the least.
3. Make the syrup: Melt the some of the butter in a small pot on medium heat. Then add the 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt. Keep stirring until dissolved. Make sure it does not burn. Pour into a bowl immediately to stop the cooking process.
4. Melt the rest of the butter in a pan on medium high heat. Wait for the butter to sizzle then you know the pan is hot enough. Put in your slices of soaked bread making sure you don't crowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side.
5. When the toast is completely done cooking move the man off the stove. Brush the syrup on the toast generously. Quickly flip the toast a few times to get a good caramelization then quickly take it out to prevent burning.
6. This happens very quickly so do this in batches. Top with whip cream and berries optional. Eat hot.

         *For facts in how to make a good french toast: http://www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/common-mistakes/article/the-7-most-common-french-toast-cooking-mistakes