The BEST French Toast Recipe {Blueberry-Maple French Toast}

Since Drew and I have been married, I have made the same thing every year for our Christmas breakfast. It's that good. The other day we had Drew's family over for breakfast and I decided to make our Christmas morning favorite, Blueberry-Maple French Toast with Blueberry Sauce. Today I decided it was time I share the recipe with you. Are you excited?

Cast of Characters:
1 large loaf (1 pound) of French bread, crust removed
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 dozen large eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1/3 cup your favorite maple syrup

For the Blueberry Sauce:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoon butter
1 cup blueberries

Start by cutting the bread into 1 inch cubes. Spread half of the bread cubes on the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Then cut the cream cheese into small cubes and scatter over the bread cubes. Scatter the blueberries evenly on top and cover with the other half of bread cubes.

Mix the beaten eggs, maple syrup and milk together in a large bowl. Pour this over the bread mixture then cover the dish tightly and refrigerate overnight. Make sure to remove the dish 30 minutes before baking the next day.

Preheat the oven to 350. Keep the dish covered with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 30 minutes until ingredients are set.

While the French toast bakes you can start on the blueberry sauce. Yum. Combine the sugar, water, cornstarch and butter in a medium saucepan. Place over medium heat and boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly! Then stir in the blueberries, reduce the heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes until the blueberries start to burst. It's actually pretty entertaining to watch blueberries burst.

Last, slice the french toast and serve with the warm blueberry sauce.

Are you in heaven yet? Please tell me you will be making this recipe.

Recipe taken from: The Best Casserole Cookbook Ever by Beatrice Ojakangas, which also includes my favorite hashbrown casserole recipe!

T.G.F.S.B. {Thank God For Spring Break}

One huge benefit of teaching is this little thing called Spring Break. Even though I'm not going anywhere that involves the ocean or temperatures above 60 degrees, I do want to cross some things off my list and enjoy my new found freedom while it lasts so...

I will be making this...{Happy St. Patrick's Day!}

Click here for full post on this delicious Corned Beef recipe

 I will be drinking out of these...

I plan to finish reading this...

 I'm going to shop for an outfit like this:

Pin from here

I'm going to perfect my chocolate chip cookie recipe:

Recipe from here

I'm going on a lunch date with this girl:

I'm going to sleep in, take a walk every day, go on more lunch dates, and just relax. This little break is much needed and I plan to enjoy every.single.second.

Do you still get to enjoy this wonderful thing called Spring Break?

Operation: "Surprise the socks off of Betsy"

I have been thrown 2 surprise parties in my life and honestly they are some of my favorite memories. Never do you feel more loved than when someone makes an effort to really surprise the socks off of you. This weekend Drew and I headed to Indy to be at a surprise 30th birthday party for one of my college girlfriends. She had NO idea that a few of us were going to make the drive to see her and it was so sweet to be able to be there to surprise her. After having just spent an amazing weekend with my college girlfriends in January we all thought it would be months before we would be together again. We are on a roll. Next up...a little Michigan beach getaway in June. I can't wait to see these girls again and see what other surprises may be in store this month.

Thanks to Betsy's photographer friend Kiel for a few of these great pictures!

Don't you just love surprises?

Hello/Goodbye Link-up #8

I am excited for what March is going to bring this year. I am feeling hopeful about this new month and can't wait for the adventures and surprises it will bring. Each new month is a fresh new start on life and personally, I plan to enjoy every second of it. Here are a few things I am saying hello to this month! Link up below to share yours...

Hello March, Goodbye February

Hello Spring and long awaited sunshine (minus the 7-10 inches we are supposed to get tomorrow)
Hello 11/22/63, Goodbye The Husband's Secret

Hello flowers, Goodbye Christmas lights (yes we just took them down this week, oops)

Hello Spring Break, Goodbye school for a week

Hello to 12 years of total togetherness with my favorite guy

Hello bachelorette and birthday parties, Goodbye having a free weekend in March

Hello long awaited second Skype date with Tara

Hello Cornbread Chicken Enchiladas
Hello hiking boots, Goodbye snow boots
Hello OPENING DAY, the real first day of Spring

Hello first pedicure of 2014, goodbye neglected, naked toes
Hello Root Beer Stand, Goodbye healthy eating

Link-up Rules:
-Follow my blog in whatever way you choose: Bloglovin, Facebook, GFC
-Grab the Hello/Goodbye button below and add it to your post or link your post back to my blog
-Go visit some of the other bloggers who linked up and see what they are saying hello to this month

This link up will be open from March 1st-4th and will reoccur the first of every month!

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<a <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>="http://<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">nestfuloflove</span>.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span>.com/" title="<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Nestful</span> of <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">LOve</span>"><<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://i42.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">tinypic</span>.com/2cfw903.<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>" alt="<span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">Nestful</span> of <span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">LOve</span>" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up