If cooking all of the above, start the sausages first, the mushrooms a couple minutes later, then the other ingredients a few minutes later. Finish with the fried eggs.
Slice the bread into triangles if you have a small pan.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter for a romantic breakfast. If you use a knife, put the slice of bread flat on the cutting board, and use the tip of the knife in an up-and-down motion, perforating the bread with small holes rather than tearing through the bread directly.
Don’t use high heat, or the bread will burn before the egg is cooked.
Optionally, add the cut-out section of bread as well, if it stayed in one piece.
Alternatively, cook alongside anything you would enjoy on an omelette. Try grating a few shreds of cheddar cheese and placing it over the cut-out bread shape.
Ideally, leave a fresh loaf out overnight to make it slightly dry and absorbent; fresh bread should work fine if this is not feasible. “Tight-crumbed” refers to the interior of the loaf, which should be spongy and free from large holes.
3 large eggs Pinch of salt ⅔ cup (160 mL) half-and-half. Substitute whole milk for a healthier alternative, or cream for an extremely rich dish. [2] X Research source Use well-shaken buttermilk instead for additional flavor. Use less dairy for thin-sliced bread, or if your French toast ends up soggy. [3] X Research source
For sweet toast, mix in 1 tbsp (15 mL) sugar and 1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla extract. If you do not plan on serving the toast with maple syrup or another sugary topping, you can mix in an addition 1 or 2 tbsp (15–30 mL) sugar. Optionally, add 2 tsp (10 mL) cinnamon and/or 2 tsp (10 mL) freshly grated orange peel. [4] X Research source For savory toast, mix in 5 tsp (20 mL) hot sauce, 3 tbsp (45 mL) chopped basil, and a generous amount of black pepper. [5] X Research source Parmesan, garlic, and any savory herbs can be added as well, or substitute for the other ingredients. [6] X Research source
Flip the bread over once, halfway through the soaking process.
You can use a neutral-flavored cooking oil such as canola oil or peanut oil instead, but the dish will be less flavorful. A small amount of oil mixed with the butter will prevent it from burning. This may be helpful on an electric stovetop or skillets that heat unevenly.
If you have additional slices of battered bread to fry, quickly wipe up the remaining butter with a dry paper towel, then melt more butter in the pan before adding the next slices. Spreading custard is a sign that your pan is not hot enough, or that there is too much liquid in your batter. [8] X Research source
