CRUNCHY TOAST RECIPES

Steps:

• Crack the eggs into a pie plate. Add the half-and-half, vanilla, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Whisk lightly until combined; set aside.
• In a separate pie plate, stir together the panko breadcrumbs, crushed cereal and remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Use a fork to stir in the melted butter so that the crumbs are slightly moist. Crack up at the madness that is in this dish, then set it aside.
• One by one, quickly dunk the bread strips in the egg mixture, turning to coat. Then lay them in the dish with the crumb mixture, turning them over, sprinkling and pressing so the crumbs totally cover the surface. Place the sticks on a rack set in a baking sheet. Flash-freeze for 30 minutes to set the surface.
• Transfer the sticks to zipper bags for storage in the freezer. I do smaller bags of 6 to 8 sticks each, but you can do larger batches if you prefer!
• To bake them from frozen state, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a pan with frozen sticks and bake until golden brown around the edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with warm pancake syrup for dipping and fruit to make you feel good about life!

Steps:

• Make a production line of a board, two wide, shallow bowls or dishes, and a baking tray that will comfortably fit the chicken, lined with baking parchment or oiled foil.
• If intending to bake immediately, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. (Otherwise, remember to turn the oven on 10 mins before baking.)
• In the first dish, mix the parmesan, mayo, garlic, lemon zest, herbs and seasoning to form a paste – a tablespoon does this well, and helps at the next stage. Tip the crumbs into the second dish and shake so they cover the base.
• Now the messy part. Put the chicken on the board and, if necessary, trim and discard any flappy bits. Blot well with kitchen paper – this will help the coating stick.
• Slide the first breast into the mayo mix and use the spoon to make sure it is coated all over. Pick it up by the pointy end and place on the crumbs. Use a spoon to cover completely with crumbs, and press them on gently until covered all over. Pick up once again by the ‘tail’ and place on the prepared baking tray. Repeat with the second breast, then discard any leftover mayo and crumbs.
• Bake for 25-30 mins until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a board and slice into three or four thick slices, scatter over the chives and serve with the lemon wedges, roasted potatoes and tomatoes, if you like.