As I mentioned in a previous post, we took a trip to Whole Foods the other weekend. Both my fiance and I enjoy a wide variety of cheeses and were not disappointed with the cheese counter at that store. Perusing the selection, I noticed some wedges of Wensleydale with cranberries. I asked the clerk behind the counter about this cheese, and he generously offered samples to us.
The cheese was slightly crumbly with a hint of acidity to its flavor. The cranberries offered a nice contrast to the taste of the cheese. Upon first bite, I knew we would need to bring some home. What would take more time was deciding how to serve the cheese.
I knew that the cheese would be popular with none of our four children, so that gave a greater range of options for recipes. Having recently seen recipes for grilled cheese and fruit sandwiches, I decided to make a slightly different version, which led to our French toast combination.
I found that it tasted best with a drizzle of maple syrup, while my husband-to-be opted for honey. Served with a glass of Merlot, this made for an excellent dinner for two.
- 4 slices multi-grain boule, cut 1/2″ thick
- 1/3 cup egg whites
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- dash nutmeg
- unsalted butter
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced
- 4 oz. Wensleydale cheese with cranberries, thinly sliced
- In a wide, shallow dish (such as a pie pan), mix the egg whites, vanilla, and nutmeg.
- Preheat griddle or large frying pan over medium heat.
- When heated, melt a small amount of butter in the frying pan, just enough to coat the bottom lightly.
- Place one piece of bread in the egg mixture, coating the bottom. Flip the bread, so that the second side gets coated with egg mixture. Remove bread from pie pan, and place in frying pan.
- Cook for 2 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.
- Flip, and continue for an additional 2 minutes. Repeat process with remaining pieces of bread.
- Place french toast on a broiler-proof pan. Top each slice with 4 – 5 apple slices.
- Place slices of Wensleydale on top.
- Put tray under broiler for 1 or 2 minutes, watching to ensure that the cheese doesn’t burn.
- Serve immediately, with honey or maple syrup, if desired.
