Old Louisville Inn French Toast For A Crowd

¼ cup butter

½ cup clear corn syrup

1-tsp almond extract

¼ cup brown sugar

1 cup thinly sliced peaches (1-1/2 cups will work)

6 eggs

1-1/2 cup milk

6 to 8 pieces French-style white bread, cut 1-inch thick

Melt butter in a small pan and add brown sugar. Stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour mixture into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Place 1 cup thinly sliced peaches over syrup.

In large bowl, break 6 eggs and beat. Add the milk and beat again, until well blended. Soak the bread in egg mixture for 1 minute. (you can add al the slices at once and turn them over gently with your hands)

Place each bread slice on peaches and syrup in pie pan, cutting bread into pieces to fill in open areas if necessary. Pour remaining egg mixture over bread slices. (You may not be able to fit all the custard in; just discard excess. ) Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate OVER NIGHT)

Heat oven to 400 deg. Remove plastic wrap from pie pan and bake toast about 1 hour (you may need to cover lightly with aluminum foil the last 20 or so minutes to prevent the surface from getting too burnt.)

The custard will puff in the center and the dish will be nicely toasted around the edges. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Serve with sausage links. Serves 6

In Fall, substitute apples and walnuts for the peaches.

Curious Journal 1 Sept 99