“Lost Bread”

Eat Your U.S. History Homework: Recipes for Revolutionary Minds
Eat Your U.S. History Homework: Recipes for Revolutionary Minds

The English call it French toast. The French go by the name pain perdu—translate that and it literally means “lost bread.” This delicious treat is named for the main ingredient, stale bread, that might otherwise be thrown away.

 

Try this recipe for “Lost Bread” and learn about history at the same time!

Lost Bread                       LostBread1

Before You Begin

Prep time: 15 minutes

Yield: 4 slices (2 servings)

Difficulty: medium

 

Ingredients

2 eggs

2/3 cups milk

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Day-old bread, cut into 1-inch slices (challah or other firm bread works well)

1 tablespoon butter

Maple syrup

 

Equipment

Bowl

Whisk or fork

Pie plate or another deep dish

Sturdy nonstick skillet

Spatula

Serving plate

 

Method

  1. Whip eggs in a bowl with a whisk or fork. Add milk, sugar, and vanilla and pour into the pie plate.
  2. Place the bread slices in the egg mixture and allow them to soak up the liquid.
  3. Turn the bread over to allow the other side of the bread to absorb the mixture.
  4. Melt a little butter in a nonstick skillet. Place soaked bread slices in the hot skillet. Cook each side until browned.
  5. Remove the bread using the spatula and serve immediately with maple syrup drizzled on top.

Ann McCallum Staats

Ann is the award-winning author of over a dozen books for kids. Her latest is FANTASTIC FLORA: THE WORLD'S BIGGEST, BADDEST, AND SMELLIEST PLANTS illustrated by Zoe Ingram (Candlewick/MIT Kids Press, 2025).
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