Guest Blog from: Rebecca Kapsen, RDN, LDN Corporate Registered Dietitian

Ebenezer is very proud of our dining program. Enjoy this week's blog and recipe!
December is upon us and has brought with it a plethora of holiday music, decorations, food and (of course) sales! I find it is easy to get caught up in the “hoopla” of the season and forget about the things that make the holiday season so special. We may focus too much on the gifts and forget about the memories we can be making. I can’t tell you what I got for Christmas when I was 6, 7, 8 or probably even 16! But, I can tell you about the stories, family time and Christmas morning waffles that I would have!
Food takes on such a huge tradition and meaning during the holiday season. We all have different traditions. One of my best friends growing up did the traditional Italian dinner featuring 7 different fish, while my family had homemade vegetable soup and rolls on Christmas Eve. One thing was in common- we shared the meal with family and made memories to cherish for a lifetime.
I’m always eager to find out what type of holiday treats people enjoy. There are so many that I have not had before! Recently, I have been hearing a lot about eggnog inspired dishes. Eggnog is traditionally made of milk, cream, sugar, whipped egg whites and egg yolks. Many enjoy mixing in brandy, whiskey, rum or bourbon. I’ll be honest, I am not a huge fan of the drink itself, however, I believe that it does add flavors that one may enjoy in dishes including cheesecake and baked French toast casserole. In fact, French toast bakes are a great dish for the holidays because it is easy to make ahead of time and allows you to enjoy more time with friends and loved ones instead of being in the kitchen all morning! You can easily tailor the recipe to accommodate for individual bread and add-in preferences too.
And now, a recipe:
Eggnog French Toast Bake (makes 6-8 servings)
Adapted by Food Network Kitchen
Ingredients:

• 8 large eggs
• 2 C low-fat half and half (can substitute milk if prefer)
• 1 C eggnog
• 2 Tbsp + 3 Tbsp sugar
• 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 loaf of challah bread (sliced into ½ thick slices)
• Powdered sugar (for dusting)
• Whipped cream, maple syrup or other desired toppings

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, eggnog, 2 Tbsp sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, 1 tsp nutmeg, cinnamon and salt.
2. In a 9 x 13” baking dish, arrange bread slices lengthwise, shingling the slices. Pour egg mixture over bread and press down to ensure bread is soaked. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight).
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
4. In a small bowl, combine 3 Tbsp sugar and remaining ½ tsp nutmeg.
5. Uncover bread and sprinkle nutmeg/sugar mixture over top. Bake approximately 35-40 minutes, or until browned and puffy.
6. Dust with powdered sugar if desired and serve with toppings of choice.