The other day, I received the book Mug Meals, and it got me thinking. There was a recipe for French toast cooked in a mug, but it called for a sturdy bread like challah (which I didn't have), along with fresh berries (which are out of season). But I liked the idea.
While I don't mind making French toast for the two of us, it seems like a lot of mess when I'm making it just for me. I figured that making it in a mug would cut down on the number of things I'd need to wash. Or at least they'd be smaller, right?
I plan on reviewing Mug Meals later, after I've had a chance to actually try a few recipes. But for now, here's my Mug Meals inspired French toast.
French Toast in a Mug
1 tablespoon butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk or cream
Pinch of salt
2 slices bread, cut into cubes
You'll need a fairly large microwave-safe mug for this. I used one that was allegedly a soup mug. A regular coffee mug might be enough for 1 slice of bread.
Put the butter in your chosen mug and melt on high in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
Meanwhile, beat the eggs, milk, and salt together in a small bowl. It doesn't need to be frothy - just combined. If you want your French toast to be even softer and more custardy, you can add more milk or cream - up to about 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) but I suggest that you try with 2 tablespoons to start, and see what you think.
When the butter is melted, add the bread cubes, then pour the egg mixture over the bread, making sure to drizzle it over all the cubes. If some are still a little dry, press them down into the mug to get them soaked in the egg mixture.
Cover the mug. I use a silicone lid from GIR, but you could use anything that's microwave-safe. The idea is to retain the heat and keep from splatting eggs inside your microwave.
Cook for 2-3 minutes at medium power.. You'll need to check the first time you do this, so you know how much time you really need - and it depends how custardy or firm you want the finished product. It will be more cooked around the edges and less cooked in the center, so stick a spoon in there and see what it looks like. If it needs more time, cook a little longer.
Leave the mug covered for another minute before you eat. For one thing, it's hotter than heck, so you don't want to eat it just yet. And for another, this lets it finish cooking all the way through. You know how microwaves sometimes don't heat evenly? Yep, this helps the heat even out.
Once you've figured out exactly how long you need to cook, you won't need to stop and check, as long as you're using the same mug and similar ingredients.
Top with butter and/or maple syrup. Or whatever you normally put on your French toast. Eat with a spoon.
You can certainly add other ingredients to the egg batter - vanilla or cinnamon or nutmeg would be nice. But since this is a quick breakfast for me, I go with the basics most of the time.