Overnight French Toast

Ingredients:

• 1 (13- to 14-inch-long) loaf of soft-crust bakery-style Italian bread
• 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 2/3 cups whole milk
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 tablespoons sugar

Directions:

1. Cut about six to eight, enough to fit your pan, one-inch-thick diagonal slices of bread.
2. Generously butter one side of each slice and arrange slices, buttered sides up, in one layer in a buttered 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit if necessary.
3. Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon salt until combined well, then pour evenly over bread. Chill, covered, until bread has absorbed all of custard, at least one hour and up to one day, depending on bread.
4. Preheat oven to 425°F. Bring mixture to room temperature and sprinkle bread with sugar.
5. Bake, uncovered, in middle of oven until bread is puffed and top is golden, 20 to 25 minutes, or longer — make sure it’s nice and golden on top or it will be soggy in the middle. Serve immediately with fruit and syrup and powdered sugar if desired.

Source: http://www.alexandracooks.com/2010/06/07/overnight-french-toast/

Chocolate Crinkles

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together cocoa, white sugar, and vegetable oil. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the cocoa mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 4 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough into one inch balls. I like to use a number 50 size scoop. Coat each ball in confectioners' sugar before placing onto prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let stand on the cookie sheet for a minute before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Source: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/9861/chocolate-crinkles-ii/