As I mentioned in a previous post, we took a trip to Whole Foods the other weekend. Both my fiance and I enjoy a wide variety of cheeses and were not disappointed with the cheese counter at that store. Perusing the selection, I noticed some wedges of Wensleydale with cranberries. I asked the clerk behind the counter about this cheese, and he generously offered samples to us.
The cheese was slightly crumbly with a hint of acidity to its flavor. The cranberries offered a nice contrast to the taste of the cheese. Upon first bite, I knew we would need to bring some home. What would take more time was deciding how to serve the cheese.
I knew that the cheese would be popular with none of our four children, so that gave a greater range of options for recipes. Having recently seen recipes for grilled cheese and fruit sandwiches, I decided to make a slightly different version, which led to our French toast combination.
I found that it tasted best with a drizzle of maple syrup, while my husband-to-be opted for honey. Served with a glass of Merlot, this made for an excellent dinner for two.
- 4 slices multi-grain boule, cut 1/2″ thick
- 1/3 cup egg whites
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- dash nutmeg
- unsalted butter
- 1 Granny Smith apple, cored and sliced
- 4 ounces Wensleydale cheese with cranberries, thinly sliced
- In a wide, shallow dish (such as a pie pan), mix the egg whites, vanilla, and nutmeg.
- Preheat griddle or large frying pan over medium heat.
- When heated, melt a small amount of butter in the frying pan, just enough to coat the bottom lightly.
- Place one piece of bread in the egg mixture, coating the bottom.
- Flip the bread, so that the second side gets coated with egg mixture.
- Remove bread from pie pan, and place in frying pan.
- Cook for 2 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.
- Flip, and continue for an additional 2 minutes.
- Repeat process with remaining pieces of bread.
- Place french toast on a broiler-proof pan.
- Top each slice with 4 – 5 apple slices.
- Place slices of Wensleydale on top.
- Put tray under broiler for 1 or 2 minutes, watching to ensure that the cheese doesn’t burn.
- Serve immediately, with honey or maple syrup, if desired.
