WALNUT STUFFED FRENCH TOAST
 Crunchy on the outside and sweet and gooey on the inside. Yum! You can vary the recipe by using combining light cream cheese with the fruit preserves used in the filling.
Prep Time: 30 min
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
• 8 slices white sandwich bread, 3/4 to 1-inch thick, from a loaf about 4 inches in diameter
• 3/4 cup strawberry, raspberry or apricot preserves, or orange marmalade
• 1/2 cup chopped California walnuts
• 1 cup egg substitute
• 1 cup nonfat milk
• 2 Tbsps sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups whole corn flakes
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Powdered sugar and maple syrup (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 475°F. Cover a large baking sheet with heavy-duty foil.
2. Using a sharp knife (a serrated blade works well), slice each piece of bread almost in half horizontally. Don't cut quite all the way through; you want to leave about a 1/2-inch crust "hinge" on each piece, thus creating a flap, or pocket, where you can separate the bread and put the filling.
3. To make the filling, in a small bowl place the preserves or marmalade and 1/4 cup of the walnuts and beat briskly with a fork to combine. Spread about 2 tablespoons of the walnut mixture inside each bread pocket, then press down lightly on the filled bread to seal.
4. In a pie plate or shallow bowl, stir together the egg substitute, milk, sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
5. In a large shallow bowl combine the corn flakes and the remaining 1/4 cup of walnuts. Crush the corn flakes between your fingers until they are broken into tiny, irregular pieces.
6. Dip each slice of filled bread into the egg mixture, turning it three or four times, until the bread is completely coated and has absorbed some of the egg--but don't let the bread get soggy.
7. Then press each slice, on both sides, into the walnut-corn flake crumbs. Pat the crumbs on if necessary to make them stick, but don't worry if the coating is not completely even. Continue until all the bread has been dipped and coated, setting the prepared slices on a sheet of wax paper as you work.
8. Place the foil-covered baking sheet in the oven to heat for about 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and rapidly coat the foil with nonstick cooking spray, then quickly place the bread in a single layer on the foil.
9. Bake for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned on the bottom. Flip the slices over and bake for 3-4 minutes longer.
10. Transfer to warmed plates or a platter, if desired, dust with powered sugar and serve with maple syrup.
Recipe courtesy of California Walnut Board
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