Fabulous French toast is stuffed, and you will be too

This whole-grain French toast is stuffed with orange marmalade and cream cheese. Bran flakes give the outside a crunchy texture. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Order this photo]

Crunchy, creamy, zesty and sweet ... all at the same time? Yep, that's what you'll taste if you try this week's Simply Delish recipe.

If you take a bite without knowing the ingredients in crunchy bran French toast, I'd bet you'd never guess you were eating something healthy.

Crunchy bran French toast features hearty whole grain bread that's stuffed with cream cheese (use light if you wish) and orange marmalade. Before being cooked, it's dunked in an egg wash followed by crushed bran cereal.

This recipe was brought to my attention through an e-mail linking me to the Food Network's web site. I get overwhelmed on that web site ... everything looks so good and it's easy to lose focus. I think I was looking for a fancy shrimp recipe, recommended by a friend, when I somehow stumbled upon recipes for French toast.

Don't ask me how that happened, but I'm happy it did.

I'll admit, traditional French toast, though great, is even too simple to feature in Simply Delish ... but stuffed French toast? This week's recipe is still easy to make, but takes a little more effort than the traditional breakfast favorite. It's quite healthy, more hearty, and pretty unique.

I made it last weekend, and Jack and I loved it.

Jack, who typically is not a big fan of French toast, has never understood my love for it, traditional or not. Whenever it's on a menu, I order it. Why? Because I rarely see it on a menu in this area! I'll see pancakes and waffles on most menus down here, but generally speaking, I think folks here lean toward biscuits and gravy (delicious in their own right).

So, to all you biscuit lovers out there, I urge you to give that a rest for one weekend, and try something different, like crunchy bran French toast. Add some bacon on the side to satisfy your need for morning protein, if you'd like.

Crunchy bran French toast

(by Melissa d'Arabian for Food Network Magazine)

8 slices whole-grain bread

4 Tbsp. light cream cheese

4 tsp. low-sugar orange marmalade

2 large eggs, plus 2 egg whites

Zest and juice of one orange

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups bran flakes cereal

1 to 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 to 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2 Tbsp. confectioners' sugar, optional

Spread 4 bread slices with 1 tablespoon cream cheese each; spread the other 4 slices with 1 teaspoon marmalade each. Combine to make 4 sandwiches.

Whisk the whole eggs, egg whites, orange zest and juice, and vanilla in a shallow bowl. Place the bran flakes in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin or your hands. Pour the crumbs onto a plate. Dip both sides of each sandwich in the egg mixture, then in the crumbs, gently pressing the crumbs onto the bread.

Heat 1 tablespoon each oil and butter in a skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add the sandwiches in batches and cook until the outsides are golden and the insides are melted, 3 to 4 minutes per side. (Add more oil and butter, if needed.)

Slice the French toast sandwiches into triangles. Let cool before serving to little ones, as the cream cheese can get quite hot. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, and the kids won't even ask for syrup!