You needn't fuss with this dish at breakfast time. Since the bread slices
need to soak in the egg mixture, you can get everything ready the night before and bake
the French toast in the morning. You'll need a loaf of French or Italian bread that's at
least 16" long to get slices thick enough to hold the strawberry and cream cheese
filling.
Filling
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla
1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries
French Toast
1 loaf day-old French or Italian bread
1 1/4 cups fat-free egg substitute
1 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon vanilla
Makes 10 slices To make the filling: In a medium bowl, stir the cream cheese until
smooth. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and almond extract or vanilla. Fold in the
strawberries.
To make the French toast: Cut a small diagonal slice off each end of the
bread and discard. Cut the bread diagonally into 10 thick slices. Cut a slit through the
top crust of each slice to form a pocket. Divide the filling among the bread slices,
stuffing each pocket with the cream-cheese mixture. Lay the slices in a 13" x 9"
baking dish.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg substitute, milk, and vanilla. Slowly pour over
the bread, then turn the slices to coat completely. Cover with plastic wrap and
refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. Turn the slices at least once while
soaking.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with no-stick spray. Place the
bread slices about 1" apart on the sheet. Bake for 6 to 10 minutes per side, or until
golden. Serve warm.
Nutrition Notes Per slice
Calories 231
Fat 6.4 g.
% of calories from fat 25
Protein 11 g.
Carbohydrates 31.1 g.
Dietary fiber 1.6 g.
Cholesterol 17 mg.
Sodium 446 mg.
Kitchen Hints In a pinch, you can replace the confectioners' sugar with granulated sugar
that has been powdered in a spice grinder or mini food processor.
After soaking, the stuffed French toast can be stored in resealable freezer bags and
frozen for up to 1 month. Place the frozen French toast on a baking sheet coated with
no-stick spray and bake at 375§F for 15 to 20 minutes per side, or until golden