Pistachio-Crusted French Toast With Strawberry And Neufchâtel Filling

• 6 ounces Neufchatel cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons creme fraiche
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 2 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered, divided
• 8 slices stale*, day-old challah (cut from a 1-lb. unsliced loaf), about 1 in. thick and 5 in. wide
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 cup whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/4 cups shelled unsalted pistachios
• 4 teaspoons sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup berry syrup

1. In a bowl, stir Neufchatel cheese until smooth, using a whisk or the back of a spoon to help get rid of lumps. Mix creme fraiche, honey, and lemon zest into Neufchatel. Fold in 1 1/2 cups strawberries.
2. Spread berry mixture onto 4 slices of bread, leaving about 1/4-in. border. Top with remaining plain slices of bread, pressing down lightly.
3. Thoroughly whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, and salt in an 8- or 9-in. baking dish. Whirl pistachios in a processor to finely chop, then spread on a plate.
4. Quickly dip 1 French toast stack into custard, making sure all sides and edges are covered, then set it in pistachios, turning to coat both flat sides. Set on a plate. Repeat to coat remaining French toast stacks. Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp. sugar on top side of each stack.
5. Heat oil and butter in a nonstick 12-in. frying pan over medium heat. Flick a drop of water into pan. If it sizzles, pan is ready for cooking.
6. Add French toast stacks to pan, sugar side down. Sprinkle top of each stack with 1/2 tsp. sugar. Cook, turning once, until dark golden brown on each side, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
7. Cut French toast stacks in half diagonally. Set on plates and top with remaining 1/2 cup strawberries and the syrup.
8. *If you have only fresh bread, put slices on a rimmed baking sheet and bake in a 200u0b0 oven until dry to touch, about 20 minutes, turning halfway through baking.

cheese, crueme fraueeche, honey, lemon zest, strawberries, stale, eggs, milk, vanilla, kosher salt, pistachios, sugar, vegetable oil, unsalted butter, berry syrup

Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pistachio-crusted-french-toast-strawberry-neufchatel-filling (may not work)