Let's Toast

breakfast for dinner is always in style

Hey there all you wonderful people. This week we’re kicking off a brand-new recipe series here in The Broiler Room: an ode to casseroles, sheet pan meals, and things made in the oven. The weather’s still chilly and these heating bills, even here in LA, are getting outta control. So let’s warm ourselves up the best way we know how, with food. There’s something special about windows fogged up by a hot stove so the next few weeks we’re getting baked for dinner. But before we get to that, I (Michelle) have a personal announcement. Next week I’m getting married and camping my way up the California coast for a week-long honeymoon. The last few years have been hard on all of us and I’m so grateful to have found someone I get to spend the rest of my life with. Just thought you might want to know.

My sweetheart loves breakfast for dinner so this week we are kicking off the new series with a Blueberry French Toast Casserole. Chickpea flour thickens the whole thing up without creating a gummy texture that can be so common in dishes like this. Not too sweet, the casserole is perfectly complimented by a maple syrup drizzle with nothing else needed. I used a cranberry pecan loaf, but sourdough is equally delish. Use whatever you love and looks good at the market. The bread needs to be a little stale so if you’re using a fresh loaf, cut it up and throw it on a cookie sheet and place it in the oven while it warms up and while you prep the rest of the ingredients. 10 minutes should be more than enough to dry it out just fine. Honestly the hardest part of the recipe is cutting up the bread, so you can always do this the day before to cut down on labor. The leftovers reheat like a dream though so feel free to make it the night before and warm it up when you’re ready to serve it if you’re short on time in the morning. The blueberries are *technically* optional but they help to lighten the whole thing up. Plus, they’re in the name of the recipe so you’ve got to try it with them at least once. I’m confident you’re gonna love it.

Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Makes 6 servings