It's a Berry Good Breakfast

Blueberry Cheese Strata

Ingredients:

6 slices bread, cubed and divided
2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup shredded low-fat Swiss cheese
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups low-fat milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
vanilla yogurt or dairy sour cream
6 mint sprigs

Preparation:

Layer half of bread cubes, blueberries, sugar, cheese and remaining bread cubes in buttered 8-inch-square baking dish. Combine eggs, milk, vanilla and salt; mix well. Pour over bread; sprinkle with cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate 6 to 24 hours. Uncover and bake at 325 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes or until knife blade inserted near center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Top with yogurt or sour cream. Garnish with mint.

Yield: 6 servings

Baked French Toast with Cherry Topping

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cup milk
6 eggs
1/3 cup maple syrup
3 Tbsp. sugar, divided
1 Tbsp. grated orange peel
1/8 tsp. salt
8 slices French bread (4-by-3-by-1-inch)
4 cups sweet cherries, halved and pitted
1/2 cup orange juice
vanilla yogurt

Preparation:

Combine milk, eggs, maple syrup, two tablespoons sugar, orange peel and salt; mix well. Pour half of mixture into each of two 9-inch-square baking dishes. Dip both sides of each slice of bread in milk mixture; arrange in the same baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Marinate cherries in orange juice and remaining one tablespoon of sugar overnight.

Carefully transfer slices to a nonstick, buttered baking sheet using a large spatula; allow excess liquid to drip into pan used for soaking. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven for 15 to 18 minutes; turn slices over halfway through baking time. Top each slice with 1/2 cup cherries and a dollop of vanilla yogurt. Serve immediately.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Toasty Plum Pecan Waffles with Fresh Plums and Maple Syrup

Ingredients:

3/4 cup pecans, roughly chopped
1-1/2 cups flour
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1-1/2 cups milk
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
1 cup fresh ripe plums, any variety, diced (about 1/2-inch dice)
additional fresh plums for slicing

Preparation:

Preheat the waffle iron. Spread pecan pieces on sheet pan on a single layer and toast in a 325-degree oven just until they are lightly browned and aromatic. Spread on parchment or wax paper to cool.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar, just to combine. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs and vanilla. Pour half of the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients and whisk; repeat with remaining half. Do not overmix. Stir in melted butter, and fold in diced plums and 1/2 cup toasted pecans. Spoon batter onto preheated waffle iron and cook until golden. Serve with maple syrup and garnish with fresh sliced plums and remaining toasted pecan pieces.

Yield: 6 waffles

---Alexandra Jersyk Ricciuti from the Toledo Blade