Cheesy French Toast Morsels

I know I know, recipes with cream cheese are lame. I recently attended a holiday party where the featured dish was a block of cream cheese slathered with microwaved cheese whiz, surrounded of course with Ritz crackers. I overheard the host telling a guest that he couldn't have a party without pulling together this old standby. Maybe in college after 11 beers at 4 am, today? No thanks. I promise these Cheesy French Toast Morsels will have you looking at day old French bread very differently. I'm often guilty of forgetting to serve the bread when I entertain. Sort of like discovering the huge pot of corn on the cob on the stove top as your taking out dessert plates. Anyway, these French Toast Morsels always come to mind when I find myself with leftover french bread. They are great to keep in the freezer when surprise visitors drop by. Serve them right out of the oven, perhaps with a pretty toothpick. Or do as I do, eat them right off the baking tray scorching hot, leaving blisters on the roof of your mouth.. so worth it.

• 1 to 2 day old French bread baquettes, crust removed, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, softened
• 1/2 pound cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

In a double boiler melt butter, cream cheese and Cheddar, remove from heat and cool. Mix egg into the mixture. This next part is a little messy..dip bread cubes into the cheese mixture and place on cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. You can prepare to this point and freeze. This recipe makes quite a bit, I usually cook 1/2 and freeze the other 1/2. (Just make sure you defrost before you cook these little guys if you choose to freeze).

Place the FrenchToast Morsels on a lightly greased cookie sheet, with a wee bit of space between them. Bake for about 15 minutes at 350 until nicely brown and gooey.