French Toast Casserole

 My new go-to for hosting brunch. Can prepare the day before then pull out of the fridge and bake. 

Ingredients

 * 1/2 loaf French bread, cubed (225 g)

* 1/2 cup butter (125 g)

* 1 cup packed brown sugar

* 6 eggs

* 2 cups milk

* 2 tsp vanilla

* 2 tsp cinnamon, divided

* 1 Tbsp brown sugar 

Method

Melt butter in  small saucepan. Add brown sugar and stir until all is dissolved. Once smooth, pour mixture into a greased 9x13 baking pan.

Spread bread cubes evenly over brown sugar mixture. 

In medium bowl, mix eggs, milk, vanilla, and 1 tsp cinnamon. Pour over bread cubes

Strawberry Pie

Adapted from here. 

Ingredients:

• 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled

• 1 (9 inch) pie crust, baked

• 1 cup white sugar

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch

• ¾ cup water

• ½ cup heavy whipping cream

  
  

  Method

  Arrange 1/2 of strawberries in baked pastry shell. Place remaining strawberries in a medium saucepan.

  Add sugar to the strawberries in the saucepan; place over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring frequently.
  
  
  Whisk cornstarch and water together in a small bowl. Gradually stir cornstarch mixture into boiling strawberry mixture. Reduce heat and simmer mixture until thickened, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
  
  
  Pour cooked strawberry mixture over berries in pastry shell. Refrigerate until chilled and set, at least 3 hours.
  
  
  Before serving, whip cream in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Serve with whipped cream