Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Boozy Baked French Toast



We celebrated Mother's Day a week early with my family and I brought this delicious wonder to the party. It's rich, decadent, and so super easy to toss together the night before a brunch and bake off the next day!

The secret ingredients in this casserole is the booze. I used Bailey's Irish Cream but may mix it up next time and opt for Frangelico or Rum.

Enjoy!

Boozy Baked French Toast
(adapted from Smitten Kitchen)



1 loaf Challah bread in 1-inch slices
3 cups whole milk
3 eggs
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, divided
3 tablespoons butted, chopped

Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with salted butter.
Arrange half of the bread in a tightly packed layer on the bottom.
Sprinkle the bread layer with half the pumpkin pie spice and all of the nuts.
Arrange the remaining challah bread layer on top of the other.
Whisk milk, eggs, sugar, salt booze and extract together in a bowl. Pour over the bread.
Sprinkle the bread with the remaining half of pumpkin pie spice.
Dot the bread with chopped butter.
Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. The bread will absorb all of the milk custard while you sleep.
Bake at 425 for 30 minutes, or until puffed and golden.
Serve with maple syrup, more butter, fresh fruit, or powdered sugar. The possibilities are endless!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Two Years Ago Today

Time sure flies when you're having fun!

Two years ago today I married my best friend, squishy, partner in crime, and soul mate. We had the most perfect day surrounded with our friends and family and couldn't have asked for anything more.

I love going back through our wedding pictures and taking a peek back through the memories created that day...


















On our wedding day, Jim and I exchanged gifts. I bought him a shiny new watch and he surprised me with a Tiffany charm necklace with the initial M to represent my new last name.



How fitting that this year for our anniversary, Mr. TL surprised me with another lovely surprise. You know that if it comes in this box, it's got to be good, right?


Inside laid a lovely Tiffany lock to add to my charm necklace!


And in case you're wondering, Mr. TL didn't get skipped over on this anniversary. The pictures of my anniversary gift were taken with his anniversary gift... a new lens for his camera. The Nikon 50 mm/ 1.4. It's pretty dreamy!


HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my favorite person. I love you more today than yesterday. xxoo.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Bad Bad Blogger



Hi. I'm Tana. I've been a bad blogger!

This past weekend was packed full and this week is shaping up to be less than low key... between my final week of classes (and everything that involves!), client meetings, engagement sessions, packing for Florida and sleeping & eating... I promise to return to my regular scheduled blogging soon.

If I don't return by the end of the week... Have a fabulous week everyone :)