April 24, 2013

Slow Cooker “Gluten Free” Maple French Toast Casserole

If you’ve been following us throughout April, it’s time for our finale for Autism Awareness Month. We worked hard to create a visual recipe format for non-readers using our chocolate cake, and build a library of techniques that we hope to share with you in future recipes. We also discussed the importance of being outdoors and adding more sensory input into all of our lives. But we saved the best for last, our slow cooking video.

For our first foray into the world of recipe video making, our super talented (and patient) videographer Andrea Blake helped navigate us through filming, with a nudge and a wink when needed. We cracked our way through 2 dozen eggs, ran out of gluten free bread and forgot our lines when fatigue started to set in. It was another “first” for Meg and I and it was so much fun to make.

Including Doug, Lily and Connie made it a real family affair and camera shy they are not. Meg and Doug made the perfect mom and son team, providing the banter to get us through multiple takes. Then I got to bring my girls in for the best part, tasting our finished “Gluten Free” Maple French Toast Casserole before Andrea announced “It’s a wrap”.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cooking Time 2 hrs 30 minutes on HIGH
Servings 8-10

Ingredients

6 cups “Gluten Free” bread, chopped
3/4 cup chopped dates (or your favorite dried fruit)
7 eggs
3 1/2 cups almond milk (rice or soy can be substituted)
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp vanilla extract

*optional Candied Pecans (see recipe at the bottom)

1 tbsp butter, salted

¼ cup pecan halves

1 tbsp brown sugar

Melt butter and stir in pecans to coat. Add sugar and stir until caramelized. Spread on wax paper to cool

Step 1 Coat the inside of your slow cooker

Step 2 Tear up or cut the bread with the lettuce knife

Step 3 Measure the cubed bread using cup measurement and put bread into the slow cooker insert

Step 4 Sprinkle the dates over the bread.

Step 5 Crack the 7 eggs into a mixing bowl and whisk

Step 6 Add the almond milk, maple syrup, sugar, vanilla and spices to the eggs and continue to whisk.

Step 7 Pour the egg mixture over the bread and push the bread into the eggs using the whisk.

Step 8 Replace slow cooker lid. Turn on slow cooker, set to high for 2 1/2 hours

Zen Toolkit
Pre – measure all your spices into a bowl the night before, cover and refrigerate.

Line up your spice jars and set out dry ingredients the night before or skip this step and purchase our Sweet and Spicy “Zen Blend” filled with organic spices – everything you need to simplify your slow cooking experience.