Challah French Toast

polly salama's Note:

OH MY!!!! THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST FRENCH TOAST I HAVE EVER HAD!! YOU CAN USE STORE BOUGHT BREAD BUT IT'S NO WHERE NEAR AS GOOD THAN IF YOU USE MIRJ'S RECIPE. WE HAD THIS NEW YEARS DAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AND MY FAMILY LOVED IT TO SAY THE LEAST!! IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU USE A SHEET PAN IN THE OVEN TO KEEP THE SLICES WARM WHILE YOU COOK THE REMAINING SLICES!! I HOPE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES ENJOY THIS AS MUCH AS WE DID!! THE PREP TIME DOES NOT INCLUDE BAKING THE BREAD

• Total Time: 22 mins
• Prep Time: 12 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 5

• 1 loaf of mirj's challah
• 6 extra large eggs
• 1 ½ cups half-and-half (YOU CAN USE MILK AS WELL)
• 2 teaspoons orange zest
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ tablespoons good honey
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• unsalted butter
• vegetable oil
• maple syrup
• confectioners' sugar (OPTIONAL)
• good fruit preserves (OPTIONAL)

Directions:

1. PREHEAT OVEN TO 250 DEGREES IN A LARGE BOWL, WHISK TOGETHER EGGS HALF AND HALF, ORANGE ZEST, VANILLA, HONEY AND SALT.
2. SLICE THE CHALLAH INTO 3/4 INCH SLICES.
3. SOAK SLICES IN THE EGG MIXTURE TURNING ONCE.
4. HEAT 1 TABLESPOON BUTTER AND 1 TBS OIL IN SKILLET OVER MEDIUM HEAT.
5. ADD THE BREAD AND COOK ON EACH SIDE FOR ABOUT TWO TO THREE MINUTES OR UNTIL NICELY BROWNED.
6. PLACE THE COOKED FRENCH TOAST ON A SHEET PAN AND KEEP WARM IN THE OVEN.
7. USE MORE BUTTER AND OIL AS YOU CONTINUE TO COOK THE SLICES UNTIL ALL IS COOKED.
8. SERVE WITH HOT MAPLE SYRUP PRESERVES AND OR CONFECTIONERS SUGAR.