Does it, sometimes, feel like there is a huge mountain to get across and it seems to only get bigger and harder every time you find a small crack to squeeze through? There is a saying in Hindi which loosely translates to -
When god gives something, you recieve it in spades
. It tends to work both ways. Sometimes life tends to pile on, stack up.. odds and evens and all that fun stuff.
I am reminded of a saying in Sanskrit -
Yad bhavam tad bhavati
, which loosely means
You are what you believe
.. :) Essentially, the adaptation of it is that the mind can step in and out of any emotional state if it only chooses to do so. Snap out of it, so to speak when the road becomes hard or snap into it when it is good and indulgent. Those guys back then had some very deep insights that spans across contexts :)
The point of me saying all this is that Life may be whatever you choose it to be, but you can definitely make it sweeter by piling on those things that comfort you and make you happy, when there is need for it. Like, go make this
Banana and Chocolate Stacked French Toast
and feel the joy coursing through you. I guarantee you will have a more blissful outlook than before you licked your plate clean!
I like my french toast crisp on the outside yet custardy in the center. The way to get this texture play is by being very patient and not skipping two very important steps. First, you have to let the bread soak in the egg mixture so it seeps into the center. Second, you must finish the toast in the oven so it cooks like pudding. Follow both steps and it is a classic french toast that will make any day a Sunday!
Bring it on, then!
Banana and Chocolate Stacked French Toast
{for 2}
1 ripe banana, sliced
4 oz dark chocolate
3 T cream
4 eggs
1/3 cup whole milk
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 T honey
4 T butter
4 thick slices of brioche or challah
Whisk together the eggs, milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and honey. Pour at the bottom of shallow baking dish. Place the brioche slices in one layer. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Flip over the slices and soak for atleast 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350F.
When ready, heat a heavy bottom pan and on low heat melt the butter. Place all the slices in one layer and fry to get a brown crust. Flip over and fry the other side.
Wash the pan you soaked the bread in and place the slices in one layer. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
While the toast finishes cooking, melt the chocolate and cream over a double boiler. Allow to just cool.
Once the toast is ready, spread the chocolate sauce generously over each slice. Arrange banana slices on top. Stack one slice over another for each plate.
Serve garnished with toasted nuts, coconut flakes, mint or berries. You can also drizzle warm honey over, if you like it sweeter.