Sunday Brunch: Apple-Gruyère French Toast Recipe

• Two 1 3/4-inch-thick slices challah bread from middle of loaf
• 2 ounces grated Gruyere cheese (about 3/4 cup)
• 1/4 small red onion, very thinly sliced (I used a mandoline)
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small apple, cored, quartered and very thinly sliced (I used a mandoline here, too)

1. Put one slice of bread on your work surface, the bottom crust nearest you. Cut into bottom crust, parallel to work surface, to make a pocket. Do not cut all the way to top of slice; bread should remain attached there. Gently stuff half the cheese and onion slices in pocket. Repeat with other slice.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour custard into a wide, shallow dish. Soak stuffed bread in custard, turning once halfway through, until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 5 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half the apple slices in a single layer and cook for 1 minute. Place bread slices in pan, covering apples. Arrange remaining apple slices on top of bread; cook 1 minute more.
4. Reduce heat to medium low (or perhaps low, if you are using a cast-iron skillet or cooking on a powerful burner), cover and cook for 5 minutes. (Since my skillet does not have a cover, I used aluminum foil to make a little lid.) Peek underneath halfway through to make sure the bottom of the bread is not browning too much; if it seems to be, lower the flame or move on to the next step right away, depending on how far gone it is. Uncover and increase heat to medium; cook until bottoms are golden, about 2 minutes. Carefully turn bread and apples and cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.

bread from, gruyere cheese, red onion, eggs, milk, kosher salt, ground black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, apple

Taken from www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/12/sunday-brunch-apple-gruyere-french-toast-recipe.html (may not work)