fortified

For almost 20 years, we've had this for brunch every Christmas morning -- Little River Inn French Toast. The recipe was given to me by good friend Sue when we were both raising small children. We'd make it on Christmas Day and compare notes. For the past couple of years my youngest has actually made it, and that was fun, too. This year, we shifted our traditional French Toast Christmas breakfast to New Year's Day, so that was a little shake-up, but I figure shake-ups are good for the soul now and then (see previous post!).

We did not give up the collards, black-eyed peas, or pork; however, we presented them in a different package, as "Southern Fried Eggrolls" with collards, black-eyed peas, gruyere cheese, and bacon. To die for. The recipe is here at Ezra Pound Cake. We agreed it was more fun than the usual plate of "a slab of ham, a glop of peas, and a teensy pinch of collards" as one diner-who-shall-not-be-named put it yesterday.

Fortified with all I need for the new year, I'm committing to a schedule. One hour with my novel each day. If I'm home and can get in more than an hour, great, as I need that. (And, as you may know, I'm capable, on a day I'm home, of staying in the chair for sixteen hours and having to be pried from it, unable to stand on my own.) If I'm traveling, I'll find the hour in the morning or evening or afternoon at an airport... but find it I will. And I will finish book two.

Let's motivate each other, what do you say? What are your creative goals for 2011?
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Recipe for Little River Inn French Toast (because I know Tara will ask me for it. :>):

Cut French toast rounds and place in 9x13 pan (or whatever you have; I used two smaller pans and made half-again the recipe). Over the toast pour this concoction: 1 stick melted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons light Karo. (Sue sprays her pan with Pam and pours her concoction in first. I like it on the bread.) Then whip together 5 eggs, 1.5 cups milk, 1 tsp. vanilla and pour it over everything. Sue refrigerates overnight. I do not. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with bacon and orange juice. Eat whole pan in one sitting. No fair counting calories or Weight Watchers points.