French Toast Fingers with Fruit and Vegetable Dips

Kids love dunking. So any time you can deliver a dip or sauce alongside tasty food, you've got a winner. This recipe reinvents French toast for a kid-friendly feast. French Toast Fingers are not only fun to dunk and down, they have the added advantage of fruit or vegetables in the batter and three luscious dipping sauces that are healthier than the old stand-by syrup. Each dip makes enough to serve all 6 portions of French toast. So pick one or triple the amount of French toast and make all three, and get ready to serve the whole neighborhood.

Ingredients:
For Vanilla Pear Dip:
1 can (15 ounces) pear halves in extra light syrup
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon butter (optional)

For Maple Peach Dip:
1 can (15 ounces) sliced peaches in juice, half drained
1/4 cup maple-flavored syrup, regular or reduced calorie
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon butter (optional)

For Cinnamon Carrot Dip:
1 can (14.5 ounces) sliced carrots
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter (optional)

For French Toast Fingers:
3 large or extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1/4 cup Vanilla Pear, Maple Peach, or Cinnamon Carrot dip
Cooking spray or melted butter
6 slices whole-grain bread, each cut in 5, 1-inch-wide strips

Preparation Time: Approximately 10 minutes

Cook: Approximately 3 minutes

Preparation:
For any dip: Mix the ingredients (except for the butter, if used) for any of the dips in a small bowl. Put 1/4 cup dip aside for the French toast.

Heat the remaining dip in a small saucepan or in the microwave oven until hot, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the butter, if using; keep warm.

For the French toast fingers: In a flat, wide bowl mix the eggs, milk, and 1/4 cup of one of the dips until smooth.

Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and coat with cooking spray oil or a small amount of butter. Dip the bread strips in the egg mixture just long enough to coat thoroughly. Cook the strips until browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Cool for 2 to 3 minutes before serving. Serve 5 French Toast Fingers (a hand) per person with a portion of the warm dip.

Servings: 6 (with 1/4 cup dip per serving)

Nutritional Information Per Serving for French Toast Fingers with Vanilla Pear Dip: Calories 160; Total fat 4.5g; Saturated fat 1g; Cholesterol 110mg; Sodium 180mg; Carbohydrate 25g; Fiber 3g; Protein 7g; Vitamin A 4%DV*; Vitamin C 2%DV; Calcium 8%DV; Iron 8%DV

Nutritional Information Per Serving for French Toast Fingers with Maple Peach Dip: Calories 190; Total fat 4.5g; Saturated fat 1g; Cholesterol 110mg; Sodium 180mg; Carbohydrate 31g; Fiber 3g; Protein 7g; Vitamin A 10%DV*; Vitamin C 4%DV; Calcium 8%DV; Iron 10%DV

Nutritional Information Per Serving for French Toast Fingers with Cinnamon Carrot Dip: Calories 160; Total fat 4.5g; Saturated fat 1g; Cholesterol 110mg; Sodium 350mg; Carbohydrate 25g; Fiber 3g; Protein 7g; Vitamin A 160%DV*; Vitamin C 4%DV; Calcium 10%DV; Iron 10%DV

*Daily Value



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