If you’re a devotée of French toast baked from a rich buttery bread soaked in a batter with just enough sugar to caramelize both sides and thick, creamy vanilla custard, this week’s recipe, Coupétade, will be a palate-pleaser.
Disclaimer: What works on the palate may not be so pleasing on the hips. Served warm, for breakfast or brunch and covered with a dash of syrup, or cold, as a dessert topped with crème fraîche, this is opulence on a plate. Since I spent last weekend hiking in picturesque Moab, Utah, on an Audubon-sponsored field trip, I sampled this week’s fare free of calorie guilt-angst. More about that later.
First, make the French toast. After cutting each bread slice in half, arrange them in a cooking pan. Then, and this is the fun part, nestle-and-tuck pieces of dried fruit over, under and in-between the cooked bread. (Kids would love this job.) I used halved dates and raisins.
Next, make the vanilla custard. Pour the custard into the pan. Allow it to set ten minutes before placing into a water bath, sliding it carefully into a 325 degree oven. Bake for 90 minutes or until the custard is set.
Personally I loved this right from the oven, topped with g-e-n-u-i-n-e maple syrup. After chilling it overnight and topping it with crème fraîche, I served it as a dessert. Did I like it cold? Not so much. But, warm with syrup, right from the oven? Yum.
Last weekend I joined our local Roaring Fork Audubon Society club on a riparian and upland birding field trip in Moab, a rugged little community located about 250 miles from Aspen in the Utah desert. Although the trip was billed as a “moderately strenuous to strenuous” outing I have participated in many birding junkets. They all have been gentle in elevation and slowly paced. Regarding strenuous??? Not even close. Obviously, Roaring Fork Audubon never received that memo.
I maintain a somewhat rigorous exercise schedule, priding myself on being fit and able. Although I realized, when returning to Colorado, I would be humbled by the athletic prowess of my friends and colleagues, I couldn’t imagine it being in Moab while birding.
To be clear, the trip, led by a biologist and geologist who both birded by ear, was fantastic. A birding short course with geology, biology and ecology added as extra credit. The desert was in bloom, the birds, in love, and the petroglyphs, waiting to be discovered.
Add to that, “moderately strenuous to strenuous”.
Claret-cup Hedgehog Cactus. This cactus is pollinated by hummingbirds.
Twelve of us gathered, early Saturday morning, in a Moab parking lot. Although a friend, another volunteer Forest Ranger, and I had each booked rooms at the Ramada Inn for the weekend, most of the others were camping in the local campgrounds. So, already we felt like wusses.
The short version to my tale is the trail was steep, the rocks, crumbly and the pace, brisk. We climbed up to Hidden Valley, birding and learning as we hiked. Then we climbed further to have lunch by the petroglyphs, a surreal dining experience. The hike down to the trailhead, in mid-afternoon, seemed just as rigorous, after a long, sunny six hours of hiking.
After the initial climb up to Hidden Valley. Headed towards the peak ahead for lunch.
At the base of the trail, one of our leaders had a brilliant suggestion. “Let’s all go to Milt’s,” she said, “and have a milkshake.”
Now that sounded to me like a Plan.
“Then,” she added, “we’ll gather at 3:00pm for our afternoon hike at Mill Creek.”
Seriously? More?
Readers, I bailed. Yep, slunk off, even foregoing the milkshake. My Ramada Inn partner-in-crime continued and later reported to walking through 12” of water during the late-afternoon. Holy Smokes.
To be truthful, six hours of hiking is a long day for me and, albeit disappointed with my stamina, I was pleased with my performance. Since I have no shame, I quickly located Moab’s local’s bar, Woody’s, took a seat at the counter and ordered a cold beer. (Free pretzels.) Yep, I was the oldest female in the establishment and the only patron without a tattoo. Fun. I’ve got a month before the snow clears on Aspen’s trails when I need to be Ranger-ready. Memo to Me: Pick up your game.
And, that’s why I didn’t worry about the calories in my Coupétade.
To see how my colleagues coped with their calories this week, go here and to try this marvelous recipe, go here. A Happy Mother’s Day to all you Mothers, Grandmothers, generous, loving Aunts (that’s you, MIchelle) and kind, doting friends ( Adriana, you’re the one). It takes us all to get these kids raised, doesn’t it. I’m in California with my family this week. Today Melissa and I are going on a Mother-Daughter hike. Hopefully, she’ll be kind!!!
So glad to see your post. I was almost worried to have a French Friday without Mary! I can’t believe you went birding in the Moab. I love to go birding and I’ve always wanted to go to the Moab. I totally relate to you bagging the afternoon hike. I am pretty fit, but not an exercise enthusiast. I basically work out so I can EAT and top things with creme fraiche… which sounds delicious on the coupetade.
I love reading about your adventures, Mary! Who knew birding was such a calorie burner? But lucky you to have the perfect excuse to indulge. We served this for breakfast, too… Have a most marvelous Mother’s Day, my friend!!!
You, my friend, are a very brave girl. Even if you did skip the last part. The French Toast looks incredible, especially with the dates. Have a wonderful time with the girls and I have no doubt that you will be in fine shape come Ranger season. Miss you lots!
Ah a fellow birder! I saw a rose-breasted grosbeak yesterday at a neighborhood feeder. Quite a flat walk, there and back, maybe I should skip the dessert?
Bailing out after 6 hours is very honourable. We also enjoyed the coupétade very much in our house. Have a wonderful mother’s day.
I’m impressed that you did even the morning hike – sounds almost more than strenuous!
The coupétade was delicious, and I like the idea of using dates.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend!
Sounds like a fun adventure and you certainly earned your dessert. I love hiking, but I’m more of an easy going day hiker and I absolutely would have been with you in the hotel. And speaking of adventures, my next Paris trip is firming up and it looks like I will indeed be there when you are. Still need to book my flight but I should be able to confirm in the next few days.
Whoopee. We’ll keep in touch this coming week.
Delicious and unique Mary! And what a fun day! The sky looks so brilliantly clear it must have been glorious. I think you accomplished way more than many young spring chickens could in a day!
Oh, that hike is one I would love to take (and I would have gone for that milkshake and the beer! afterward)!
You’re my hero 🙂
Love reading about your adventures, Mary! I would love to go birding in such a magnificent place. Sounds like a great day, you definitely deserved the beer and pretzels!
And your coupetade looks so yummy! I enjoyed it warm for dessert, the next morning I ate it cold for breakfast!
Happy Mothers Day!
Holy moly- what an adventure ! I was already googling Audobon in Vermont when I was half way through your post, trying to figure out if they have any similar hikes so thanks for the inspiration. Of course when I read the rigors of the hike, I decided I would research options that are “less strenuous” to start with 🙂 6 hours and then a break to do more- wow. You deserved a milkshake and that beer. You easily earned the recipe this week and all the sugar we added to it. And lovely that you spent time with your daughter and family (even if for a hike 🙂
Mary, so wonderful to read about all your fabulous adventures! And how wonderful that you got to spend the Mother´s Day weekend with your family! Although that day is somewhat “special” here, we do not really celebrate all that much (for various reasons), mostly, the small kids will make a few gifts in primary school, a few flowers, that´s about it. I must agree with you on liking the Coupétade better when it is hot, it does set quite a bit when it cools down and the custard is certainly more silky when still warm – I like your large serving dish with all the dried fruits, ready to go in the oven!
I am slowing starting go get a bit nervous about the 21st, keeping my fingers crossed that all will be fine and that we will spend a wonderful day in à Paris!
I know it’s difficult to get everything organized, leave four little girls and one big husband alone, and whip on the train over to Paris………. But, once you are on the train, hopefully the stress and nerves will melt alway and we’ll have a wonderful day together. If we do nothing else but just get acquiainted, that would be perfect. However, I have an entire day planned so we’ll just have to get acquainted as we take breaths! See you soon.
Hiking? Give me brioche anytime! Your pudding looks wonderful Mary!
Sounds like you are justified in not worrying about the calories on this one, even with the maple syrup. The birding adventure sounds fabulous! We spent our honeymoon in Moab. That’s beautiful country! I think you are amazing with all the adventures you embrace, Mary.
What a beautiful post & wonderful experience!
Thanks for being so supportive! We’ve had a few issues with our new kitties settling in and a lot of family events going on, so have been a bit more MIA than intended!
I think it’s wonderful that you are so close to your daughter! And I hope you had a lovely Mother’s Day! xoxo
Wow, that hike definitely sounds strenuous, but your photos are just gorgeous. I’d love to go there sometime. You definitely earned your coupetade calories, and then some! I wish I had thought to try this right from the oven, I waited until it was cold.