MARTIE DUNCAN MAKES STRAWBERRY NUTELLA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Why have one slice of bread for your French Toast when you can have two with strawberries and Nutella in the middle? This recipe is so good, you’ll be tempted to make it every weekend—brunch will never be the same!

STRAWBERRY NUTELLA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
Makes 5 servings

INGREDIENTS
5 large eggs
¾ cup heavy cream (you may also use milk or half and half or any combination)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, sliced thick
10 slices Brioche or soft loaf bread, thick sliced is best
10 tablespoons Nutella® chocolate hazelnut spread
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup Confectioners sugar, for dusting
Maple syrup, optional

DIRECTIONS:
Hull and slice the strawberries. Set aside on a paper towel.

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, heavy cream and salt. Set aside.

Spread the bread with Nutella, making certain to go all the way to the edges. This is the “glue” that will hold the bread together. Put strawberry slices on top of five slices of bread which have been spread with Nutella. Put the bread together to form 5 sandwiches.

Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Working one at a time, quickly dip the sandwich in the egg mixture, letting it sit about 2-3 seconds per side to soak up the egg mixture.

Turn up the heat to medium-high. Add a pinch of the butter to the pan. When the butter bubbles, add the sandwich and cook until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Repeat.

Use a serrated knife to slice on the diagonal for serving.
Dust with Confectioners sugar. Serve with warm maple syrup, if desired.

RECIPE: THE LATEST COFFEE OBSESSION IS BANANA MILK COFFEE!

This is the newest coffee craze straight out of Brooklyn !#BananaMilkCoffee... Who knew? It is so rich and creamy-I love it! It isn't overly sweet or overly 'banana' either. And the perfect way to use that banana about to go bad. I used to have a smoothie with a banana in it for breakfast. Now, I put the frozen banana in my coffee and cut back on calories... You're going to want to try this! Bye, bye Latte!

You can add some different spices to it, if you want. I added some spice infused simple syrup and it was even better.

ICED BANANA MILK COFFEE

INGREDIENTS
1 mug of your favorite cold brew coffee or very strong brewed coffee ( I used Community Coffee Cafe Special), chilled with ice
1/2 frozen banana, sliced
1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)
1 tablespoon simple syrup ( make sweeter if you want)

DIRECTIONS:

Chill the coffee with ice cubes if you are using brewed coffee. (Make your coffee stronger than normal.)

Whip the banana, milk and simple syrup together using an immersion blender or blender to create a frappe' or to a frothy consistency. Pour over the iced coffee. That's it! (Took me 2 minutes- but I always have frozen bananas in the freezer.)

CLICK FOR MORE COFFEE RECIPES FOR NATIONAL COFFEE DAY....     Thanks, Community Coffee!

RECIPE: THREE CHEESE GRITS (SO EASY!)

Do you need something quick, easy, and comforting for breakfast or brunch during the holidays? This super fast grits recipe is perfect for Christmas morning or any holiday brunch because it's not only delicious, it's quick to fix and affordable, too.

I call these my 3G Grits; it is the Gouda, Gruyere, and Goat cheeses that take these grits from everyday to gourmet. You can use whatever combo of cheeses you have... it is the perfect way to use the leftover cheese you have hanging around in the fridge.

THREE CHEESE GRITS

INGREDIENTS

2 cups quick cooking grits or stone-ground grits; cooked to package instructions

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

Kosher salt & fresh cracked pepper to taste

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup Gouda, coarsely grated

1/2 cup Gruyere, coarsely grated

1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled

Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)

Smoked paprika (optional, to lightly sprinkle on top)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

Generously butter a shallow baking dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter. Make grits according to package directions. Stir in butter, heavy cream as the grits are almost done. Add the peppers, and stir in the cheeses, reserving a bit of each for the top. Stir until the cheese is almost completely melted and pour into the buttered dish.

Bake at 425 for 12 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve immediately.