Lemon Ricotta Mascarpone Stuffed French Toast

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Berries are in season and there is nothing better like a bright, celebratory brunch punctuated with lemon, and this stuffed French toast is just that. Fluffy, custard-like slices of brioche  get filled with creamy ricotta  and mascarpone cheese  that is flavored with fresh lemon juice and zest, and then get toasted in butter until golden-brown. It’s the classic French toast you know and love, only elevated with a decadent center that makes it fit for a celebration.

Serves 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS:

One pound loaf unsliced brioche bread

1 large lemon

One 16-ounce container ricotta cheese

4 ounces mascarpone cheese

1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided

3 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 1/2 cups whole or 2% milk

6 large eggs

4 to 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

For garnish: toasted pecans, cooked bacon crumbles 

For serving: fresh berries, maple syrup, powdered sugar and finely grated lemon zest


DIRECTIONS:

Trim the ends off an unsliced loaf brioche or challah bread. Cut crosswise into 2-inch thick slices (4 to 6 slices total). Cut a pocket into each slice: Arrange it cut-side down on the cutting board. Position a small knife parallel to the cutting board and use it to cut a pocket into the side, being careful not to cut all the way through. Insert your fingers into the pocket and gently press around with your fingers to compress the bread slightly.

Finely grate the zest of 1 large lemon into a medium bowl (about 2 teaspoons); juice the lemon into the bowl until you have 2 tablespoons. Add ricotta cheese, mascarpone cheese 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of the vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir until the sugar is almost completely dissolved.

Transfer into a piping bag or large plastic zip-top bag. Cut off one bottom corner of the zip-top or the tip of the piping bag and generously pipe the filling into the pocket of each bread slice. The filling should completely fill the pocket but not overflow, and you may have leftover filling.

Place 1 1/2 cups whole, 6 large eggs, remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar, and remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a 9×13-inch baking dish and whisk until smooth and no streaks of unincorporated egg are visible. Fit a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet.

Place as many bread slices as can fit in a single layer into the milk mixture. Soak, flipping once, until the bread is saturated but not soggy, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer the bread slices to the wire rack; repeat soaking the remaining slices.

Melt 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add as many bread slices as can fit in a single layer with space around each one. Cook until golden-brown and the custard in the bread is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side (reduce the heat as needed to cook the toast for the full amount of time). Transfer to serving plates and tent with aluminum foil if not serving right away or keep warm in a 250ºF oven.

Cook the remaining bread slices, melting 2 tablespoons of the unsalted butter in the pan before each batch. Garnish with pecans, bacon crumbles, and mint, if deired. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar, maple syrup, berries, and more lemon zest if desired.

RECIPE NOTES
Make ahead: The cheese filling can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

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Grilled Ham and Cheese with Strawberry-Red-Wine Jam

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The secret to Chris Kronner’s delectable sandwiches is the jam spiked with Pinot Noir. Kronner got the idea when he was helping Elisabeth Prueitt test jam recipes while they drank wine.

 

Adapted from Chris Kronner
Food & Wine
April 2010

Serves 4

Ingredients:
Eight 1/4-inch-thick slices of brioche
1/2 cup strawberry jam mixed with 2 tablespoons of Pinot Noir
8 thin slices of baked ham
8 thin slices of Gruyère cheese
Softened unsalted butter

Directions:
Heat a large griddle. Spread 4 of the brioche slices with the jam. Top each slice of bread with 2 slices of the ham and 2 slices of the Gruyère and close the sandwiches. Lightly butter the outside of the sandwiches and fry the sandwiches over moderate heat until toasted and the cheese is melted, 2 minutes per side. Cut in half and serve right away.

Duck Livers on Toast with Whisky Cream Sauce

Duck livers on toast with whisky cream sauce

Duck livers have never had it so good. In this duck liver recipe, Gressingham duck livers are coated in an incredible whiskey cream sauce, then placed on pillowy brioche bread.Grade-A Duck Foie Gras Slices
Duck liver can also be purchased from, D’Artagnan one of the best places to buy duck liver (foie gras) online. D’Artagnan  introduced domestically-farmed foie gras to the United States in 1985 and has continually supplied fresh and prepared foie gras to the finest restaurants, stores and home cooks across the United States. If duck livers are not readily available, chicken livers can be used as a great substitute.

You can use whatever whisky you like for the sauce, depending on what sort of flavour you would  like the whisky to impart.  I used  a 12 year old Macallan Speyside Single Malt Macallan Scotch Whiskey, aged in sherry oak casks, for this recipe.

Macallan 12 Year Old / Sherry Oak

Deliciously smooth, with rich dried fruits and sherry, balanced with woodsmoke and spice. Described by F. Paul Pacult, the renowned international whiskey writer, in his book Kindred Spirits as ‘simply the best 12 Year Old single malt around’.

Being made since 1824, it is most sought-after whiskey for collectors, and you can find a huge range of Macallan Scotch whisky to buy online. Over the past four decades, Macallan has built probably the best reputation for quality malt whiskey and  rare vintages.

 

 

 

 

 

Serves 4

Ingredients:
For the Duck Livers:
1 1/2 pounds duck livers
Kosher salt, to taste
vegetable oil

 
For The Whisky Sauce:
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, finely diced
3 Tablespoons whisky
1/2 cup brown chicken stock (click on the link for the recipe)
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
2 Tablespoons chopped chives
1 dash of lemon juice

For the Brioche:
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 loaf of brioche, sliced into 4 thick slices

 
Directions:
Begin by cleaning the livers and removing any small pieces of sinew or loose flesh.

Coat the base of a frying pan with oil and place over a high heat. Caramelize the livers until golden brown on both sides and season with salt – they should be slightly pink in the middle. Remove from the pan and rest in a warm place

Add the butter to the same pan with the shallots and sweat until soft. Add the whisky, reduce until almost dry, then add the chicken stock and reduce again by half.

To sweat is to cook something – usually vegetables – gently on a low-medium heat until tender but not caramelized, while stirring frequently.

Finish the whiskey sauce with heavy cream and reduce the sauce until it thickens slightly to the right consistency. Season with salt to taste and leave in a warm place.

To prepare the brioche, trim the crusts from the slices and each slice into neat circles. Heat a large knob of butter in a pan and fry the brioche until golden brown on each side. Remove from the pan and place on absorbent kitchen towel to drain.

Before serving, reheat the sauce and finish with the chives, parsley and a small dash of lemon juice. Place the warm livers on the toasted brioche and sauce generously.