French Toast Panini With Grilled Bananas Recipes

GRILLED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat a grill pan or grill on medium heat.
• Make a pocket in each slice of bread and set aside. In a medium bowl, mix together the marshmallow creme and hazelnut spread until smooth, then stir in the chocolate chips. Fill each pocket with some of the spread.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, honey, cinnamon and eggs in a shallow dish. Dip each bread slice in the batter and set aside.
• Lightly spray the grill pan with cooking spray. Grill the French toast until well-marked and crisp, being careful not to burn it, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Meanwhile, place the strawberries cut-side down on the grill pan and grill until slightly cooked, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Transfer the French toast to individual plates, drizzle with caramel, shave over chocolate, top with grilled strawberries and serve alongside the warm syrup.

FRENCH TOAST PANINI WITH GRILLED BANANAS

Steps:

• Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, orange juice, vanilla, cognac, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and a pinch of salt in a bowl.
• Place the bread in 2 shallow baking dishes in a single layer. Pour the egg mixture over the bread; let soak for 10 minutes.
• While the bread is soaking, preheat a grill to medium. Place a flat cast-iron skillet on the grill. Brush the bananas with the melted butter; cook in the skillet until they are browned on all sides and beginning to release their juices, about 3 minutes. Use a spatula to transfer the bananas to a plate, then wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel. When the bananas are cool enough to handle, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Remove a piece of bread from the egg mixture, allowing the excess to drip off. Place on a cutting board, top with four or five banana slices, then cover with another piece of bread. Brush the skillet on the grill lightly with vegetable oil. Add the sandwich to the pan; place a grill press or heavy pan over the sandwich to weigh it down. Cook until the bread is nicely toasted and golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip, press and cook on the other side until golden. Keep warm; repeat with the remaining bread and bananas, adding more oil as needed. Transfer the panini to plates and slice in half diagonally; top with confectioners' sugar and plenty of maple syrup.

GRILLED BANANAS

Steps:

• Build a charcoal fire or preheat a gas grill.
• Slice the bananas, in their skins, in half crosswise and then lengthwise so each banana yields 4 pieces. Set aside on a clean platter. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Drizzle the honey on the cut sides of the bananas and sprinkle them with the cinnamon sugar. Let the bananas sit for 5 minutes.
• Place the bananas, cut side down, on the center of grill. Grill for 2 minutes or until grill marks appear. Using a pair of tongs, turn them over and cook for 5 more minutes, or until the skin pulls away from the bananas. Remove the bananas from the grill and serve them immediately, on top of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with bourbon or liqueur, if desired.

EASY BANANA FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Mash the banana in a shallow bowl with a fork; mix it until most lumps disappear.
• Scramble both eggs into the bowl along with the spices and vanilla extract.
• Preheat a griddle or frying pan.
• Use cooking spray or butter.
• Dip slices of bread in mixture and transfer to pan.
• Cook both sides until done.