Cooking for parents and kids

(StatePoint) – Food brings family together. And time spent in the kitchen is how cooking traditions and those secrets behind the best dishes get handed down from generation to generation.

Following is a recipe for parents and kids to make together. “Whenever my mom offered to make something special, the answer was always French toast casserole,” writes Katie Meyers, on “Meyers Styles,” her lifestyle blog. “When I heard Pyrex was commemorating its 100th anniversary, I couldn’t resist raising my measuring cup with my daughter, and toasting a kitchen icon with this treat.”

Maple Pecan French Toast Casserole

Ingredients

5 cups bread cubes

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1/4 cup white sugar, divided

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 tablespoon butter, cut up

1 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Optional ingredients: maple syrup, raspberries, powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray an 8×8 inch pan with cooking spray. Line bottom of pan with bread cubes.

In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt, almond extract and vanilla. Stir in pecans. Pour egg mixture over bread. Dot bread mixture with butter and let sit for 10 minutes.

Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake about 35 to 45 minutes, until top is golden.

Dust with powdered sugar and a few raspberries, then drizzle with maple syrup. Serve immediately.