Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

I made these a few weeks ago, but I haven't gotten around to posting the recipe. Let me just say, so very good! I seem to be on a strawberry kick around here lately. It's probably because the strawberries have been on sale, well the winter sale price, and haven't cost me $5 a carton, and they are so sweet! I guess the big freeze in Florida made these strawberries extra sweet! Anyway, back to the french toast. So yummy! It wasn't too hard to prepare, just make sure you're careful when slicing into the bread, you may just slice through the bread like I did on occasion. This is a great twist on traditional french toast. I halved the recipe and it worked just perfect. Below is the full recipe in case you actually need 8 slices of this yummy goodness.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
from Sweet Luvin' in the Kitchen

Ingredients:
For the filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. strawberry jam
1 Tbsp. orange zest (about half an orange)

For the French Toast:
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
juice of half an orange
8 slices, Texas Toast style bread
Directions:
Preheat griddle or skillet. Combine filling ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

In wide, shallow dish, mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and orange juice and set aside.

With a pairing knife, slice a pocket into the top or side of the bread, but don't cut all the way through. Be careful, I cut through on more than a couple of mine. Fill the pocket with about a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.

Dip the filled bread in the egg mixture, and place on the griddle or skillet. Cook about 2-3 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining slices.

Serve hot with additional strawberry cream cheese mixture and powdered sugar, if desired.

This recipe is linked to Fat Camp Friday, Prairie Story, and Tasty Traditions.