Fried Toast Hits the Spot

In my family fried toast can be breakfast, lunch or dinner. It acts as a comfort food as well as a meal. My dad made fried toast, one of his few specialties. When I make it I think of him.

I've seen recipes for fried toast that has milk and eggs. I always think of those recipes as French toast. Unfortunately most dairy doesn't agree with me so I don't enjoy the traditional French toast recipes. My father just slathered butter or margarine onto bread and put it into a fry pan or on a skillet. After cooking for about 5-7 minutes it's not burnt but crisp and slightly browned. With peanut butter and jelly or cinnamon and brown sugar it's a superb meal or snack. I follow his recipe.

As an adult I discovered I'm a diabetic. So I started watching my diet. At first I thought I'd have to give up my fried toast. Instead I've adapted a little. Instead of four pieces of toast at a time I have one slice for a snack or two slices for a meal. For the snack I add a tablespoon of peanut butter to incorporate protein. It's not an exact science but it seems to work fine with my blood sugar levels. A slice of white or wheat bread will add up to about 13 grams of carbohydrates and the peanut butter adds 7 more grams of carbs with 7 grams of protein. That's just above the parameters of the normally suggested diabetic snack of 15 carbs and 7 proteins. Sometimes I add jelly which will raise the glucose moderately. I figure I could do worse. Any diabetic should consult with their doctor or nutritionist before planning to enjoy this snack because every persons dietary need is a little bit different. I've also read a wide variety of how protein and carbohydrates should be combined.

For a meal I fry two pieces of toast after buttering both sides. This is my usual substitute for grilled sandwiches. I toast both sides of the bread. Then I add sandwich meat such as ham, turkey, or even boloney. Of course, cheese works great with or without the meats. Try leftovers with fried toast. They can be used up easily and then you won't have to worry what to do with them. With this I have about 30 grams of carbohydrates and a somewhat reasonable portion of protein, depending on the meat I choose. With a cup of fruit or vegetables I feel it works fine for my needs. It's good and satisfying.

On a warm day toast is quick to cook up and doesn't add to the heat. So it's a great summer food. With winter taking over now it's cold outside. Many household budgets are tight right now, even though it is being said that the recession is lifting. Why not try a warm, easy comfort food for a brunch or as a part of a dinner one weeknight? It's quick, with few dishes. You can adjust the recipe easily for each member of your household if needed. The sun isn't up yet today but I think I might go fix my breakfast now. Two pieces of fried toast coming up. Have a good day.