CANDY APPLE FRENCH TOAST

Rich and fit for royalty, this French toast is prepped the night before, so all you have to do is slip out of bed, tip toe to the kitchen, turn on the coffee pot, set out the French toast on the counter so it can warm up while the oven is heating up, then pop it in and enjoy your coffee in your favorite chair.

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 stick butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 large tart apples, peeled, cored, sliced 1/4-inch thick
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
9 slices day-old bread, sliced 3/4-inch thick

APPLE SYRUP

1 cup applesauce
1 (10oz.) jar apple jelly
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar, butter and corn syrup about 5 to 7 minutes or until thick. Pour into an ungreased 13X9 baking dish and top with sliced apples. Beat the eggs, milk and vanilla. Dip the bread in for a minute and then put it over the apples in the dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Remove from the fridge 15 to 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake, uncovered, for 35 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, mix together all syrup ingredients. Cook until hot. Serve over the French toast.

“We eat fried eggs, biscuits and gravy, French toast, things like that. Let's just say they won't set us at a two-person table anymore. So we have enough elbow room, they set us at a four-person table.”~Josh Taylor