Baked French Toast with Apples and Granola

Ingredients:

• 1 16 oz. loaf day-old French bread
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup half and half
• 6 large eggs
• 1 banana
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, divided
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups diced and peeled Granny Smith apples
• 1-1/2 cups granola
• maple syrup

Preparation:

1. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.


2. Cut French bread into slices, and place in a single layer in the prepared pan -- it's okay to squish them, if necessary.


3. In a blender, combine milk, half and half, eggs, banana, 1 Tbsp. of the brown sugar and the vanilla. Puree until smooth.


4. Pour over the bread, turning the bread several times to coat evenly. Make sure the crusts of the bread are well-coated with the egg mixture. Refrigerate at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours.



Note: You can make this recipe at the last minute, letting the bread soak up the egg mixture in as little as a half hour, provided you use stale bread, and turn to coat the bread with the egg mixture frequently.

5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the French toast from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.


6. Melt the butter. Toss with diced apples, granola and remaining brown sugar.


7. Sprinkle the granola mixture evenly over the French toast. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake 20 minutes.


8. Remove foil, and bake another 15-20 minutes until the topping turns golden brown.