Stuffed Creme Brulee French Toast & Desperate Housewives!!

Two birds with one stone...

Gourmet Weekly Recipe & The Bistro's "Prime Time" Menu Guide

I am glad to know so many of you enjoyed last weeks recipe from The Bistro. Please continue to send photos and comments, it's fun to see all the trials and tribulations that cooking can cause. Those who are here only for the recipe...scroll down. For the rest of you, sit back, settle in and enjoy my 1st pairing of "Prime Time TV & The Bistro's Menu".

"Desperate Housewives"....I apologize now to the guys who follow this blog...as this one is mainly geared to us women who continue to watch other women on TV. Sometimes it makes us feel better about ourselves. Just being honest, it does. We are glad we aren't Katherine who had a so called "breakdown", we're glad too we aren't Bree who has not only cheated, gotten caught but now from her own acts landed her husband in a wheelchair for life. And then there are times when a character like Robin struts on stage and we all silently say ....WOW, great body, great hair, but then we realize OK....ewwww she has a job that most of us don't strive for, she is single and doesn't have a great love of her life, so life seems a bit better, Phewww. We are better then her. We have a good standing job, great friends, a good man in our lives and we say bad things about her because of her job, start to question why any guy would find her beautiful when she is a stripper! When of course we know, she is beautiful and she isn't really a stripper so again...jealous, but of course we would never admit that! And we somehow forget....this is a TV SHOW!!

So while all this drama unfolds before us every Sunday night, we need a perfect food to enjoy while watching it. Something indulgent but delicious, something gourmet but comforting, something sweet but filling, something like...

Stuffed Creme Brulee French Toast.

Yes I said it!! Sounds amazing doesn't it? So now for the recipe part. As I said before the Chef isn't big on exact amounts, or measurements so some of this is based on your taste and experimenting.

1. Bread: We liked to use long Italian Bread. We slice it into long pieces, approximately 7 inches long and about an inch and half wide, maybe even two. You can use whatever shape bread you like, Sourdough works great as well.

2. French Toast Batter: 4 eggs and 4 egg yolks. Whisk together until bubbles form (that's how you know its fluffy ;) add a half of cup to three quarter cups half and half, Add one cup sugar and half cup brown sugar. Whisk all ingredients together. Add Vanilla Extract to taste. Dip bread into batter and poke holes in bread to allow egg mixture to soak in. (Chef's tip: The more stale the bread the better as fresh bread does not absorb as much liquid as older bread.) Fry toast in butter over low heat until center is done.

3. Stuffing: Mix 1 package cream cheese and 1 cup Ricotta Cheese, and one cup white sugar together in a bowl, (can be done by hand or mixer) Add the zest (for more flavor) of one orange and juice of one orange to mixture. You can add more of any ingredients or less of any ingredients depending on your taste. You may also replace orange zest for Lemon Zest! Meyer lemons work best as they are less acidic and have an orange flavor to them :)) (BAMM))

4. To assemble: Place one piece of toast on plate, top with two large scoops of Stuffing mixture, lay the other piece of toast just slightly on top. Top with confectioners sugar and grated orange zest!!

So now every Sunday night...turn on Desperate Housewives and pair it with your newest found recipe...STUFFED CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST. But for those of you who still don't feel like cooking. Call The Bistro and order take out.. This is available on their menu and is soo delicious it's cruel. If your hubby or boyfriend or kids desire something out to eat...there are so many options...Mac & Cheese, Meatloaf Sandwiches, Stuffed Bistro Burgers, Salads, wraps and so much more. So there is plenty for everyone!

And for those of you DVR or TIVO Desperate Housewives...I have an even better idea. Get a group of friends together after work, call The Bistro, order your French Toast, head to your house and enjoy the show together...this way you can all cackle and laugh together with this decadent dish melting in your mouth!!

And I am still working on what to eat during American Idol....can't seem to figure out what would help settle my stomach when I get so upset and what I would enjoy as I listen to impressive newbies. So stay tuned next week for the next pairing of The Bistro's Prime Time Menu Guide.

~~Ally