Berry Good French Toast

Sorry about that - I'm just amusing myself...

Anyway - this is Very good french toast and the best thing about it is that you make it ahead of time and just bake that morning. Almost like a berry cheesecake. I did this last week when our friends were visiting from Maui - which is why I've been lax on posting - too busy cooking and socializing!!!

Baked Berry French Toast serves about 6 (less if Gary is eating it!)

1 loaf of french bread cut into slices and then strips (I always have extra bread in the freezer - today I had a loaf of cranberry bread I got at the farmer's market here in Healdsburg - it was perfect!)

3 eggs

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups whole milk

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 stick cold butter

6 oz cream cheese

4 cups berries (blue, black, raspberries - a combo or whatever you find that's at it's peak - this week it was blackberries)

Grease a 13" x 9" pyrex pan. Beat eggs, sugar and vanilla then stir in milk. Pour over bread, cover and refrigerate overnight. Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter with a fork until it is crumbly and put in the fridge. Next morning preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle over the bread the bits of the cream cheese, then sprinkle the sugar/flour/butter mixture and finally scatter over the fruit. Bake for about 35-45 min. Invite over the neighbors!