How to make French toast

It's the weekend! So you have a few extra minutes to prepare a special breakfast for those you love.  Try this quick, easy and delicious recipe for French toast, it's a classic that won't disappoint!

Ingredients:
8 slices of bread
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp butter

Maple syrup, strawberries and whipped cream


Instructions:

Preheat Oster non-stick skillet to 300 degrees or non-stick pan to medium heat

Add butter to pan and allow to melt completely

In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla until combined.

Dip bread into mixture making sure both sides are well coated.

Place coated bread into skillet and cook until lightly browned (approximately 2-3 minutes)

Flip bread over gently and cook on other side an additional minute or two.

Serve immediately topped with whipped cream, strawberries and maple syrup.

Recipe yields 4 servings.

Italian white wine - The Unadvertised Winner

October 31, 2016 - Roy Thomson Hall - Toronto, ON
Italian Trade Commission - Master Class 2016
By Fire & Sea - A Tasting of Wines From Italy
 

I began the tasting with a diverse assortment of rich red wines from the Puglia, Calabria and Sicilian regions of Italy.  Although I could go on for days about the reds, the new flavors and perfume like aromas I discovered by trying grapes grown in rare climates like at the base of volcanoes.  I feel like everyone knows Italy produces amazing red wine. So this time I think it far more interesting to tell you about how surprised I was about the unbelievable quality of their white wine production.

On a day to day basis it is easy to say that I prefer to drink white wine.  The rich concentrated color of these red wines sure was beautiful, just not on my teeth or my clothes, so for vanities sake, for me anyways, usually white is right. In past, I have always preferred the flavors of whites from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Unbeknownst to me the light, fruity and fresh flavors I crave could be further magnified with the calcium rich, chalky, clay soil used to grow these Italian Bad Boys.

So next time you head out to the liquor store, pick yourself up a bottle of Italian white wine and start your own winecation.  Here are some  Italian whites that I would recommend as a perfect stand alone drink or to go with chicken or seafood:

$21 - Vermenti - Bolgheri DOC - 2015 - Very fresh and light with tons of bright citrus aroma.  Balanced acidity with fruity flavor and good length.

$27 - Alois Lageder - Pinot Bianco 2015 -  Brightly colored, light, fruity, palate awakening.  

$31 - Colli di Lapio - Fiano di Avellino DOCG - 2014 - Ripe summer fruit and floral aroma, rich full body with excellent length, soft fresh flavor.

How to cook rice

Always tasty, yet often over complicated!
Making rice is so easy to make and once you know how, it will surely become one of your go-to side dishes of choice.

Ingredients: may vary depending on variety of rice so check your package for the correct rice to water ratio*

1 cup parboiled rice, rinsed
2.5 cups water
Pinch salt

Instructions:

Combine ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil.

Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer until the rice has completely absorbed the water.

Remove from heat and gently fluff rice with a fork and serve.

Check out this video for visual instructions!