BREAD FOR FRENCH TOAST RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 
• Arrange the bread in two layers in a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish, cutting the bread to fit the dish. Set aside. 
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, honey, orange zest, vanilla, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press the bread down. Allow to soak for 10 minutes. 
• Place the baking dish in a larger roasting pan and add enough very hot tap water to the roasting pan to come an inch up the side of the baking dish. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting it so the foil doesn't touch the pudding. Make two slashes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes, remove the aluminum foil, and bake for another 40 to 45 minutes, until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set. Remove from the oven and cool slightly. 
• With a small sieve, dust lightly with confectioners' sugar and serve hot in squares with maple syrup on the side.

Steps:

• TO SERVE Preheat the grill to medium. Slice two thick rounds of panettone. Get a non-stick pan with the same diameter and rub the soft butter all over the base. Beat the eggs with the vanilla paste and icing sugar in a shallow bowl, then dip one of the panettone slices in the eggy mixture until well soaked on both sides. Quickly and confidently transfer to the cold buttered pan. Drain the peaches and finely slice, then lay across the eggy panettone in the pan. Snap up and scatter over the chocolate. At this point, I’ve been known to add a little swig of amaretto, vin santo or Baileys. Dip the second slice of panettone in the eggy mixture, then pour any excess egg over the chocolate and peaches. Sit the second panettone slice on top, and press down gently to compact so the egg is absorbed everywhere – don’t worry if the panettone tears, just patch it up, it’s all going to cook into one batch of deliciousness. Place the pan on a medium heat for 3 minutes, to encourage a nice, crispy bottom, then sprinkle with a little extra icing sugar and pop under the grill for 10 minutes, or until the top is beautifully golden – keep an eye on it. Safely and confidently tip the panettone French toast sandwich on to a board, and sift over a final extra dusting of icing sugar from a height. Wedge it up and serve hot or warm, with scoops of vanilla ice cream. Heaven.