Book #2: 30-Minute Meals From The Academy

Book #2 in my Cook the Bookshelf Challenge is 30-Minute Meals From The Academy. 

 30-Minute Meals from the Academy

About the Book

This book was published in 1993 and was one of the very first books I bought on Amazon.  Years ago I had taken a weekend class for 'serious home chefs' at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, which was at Le Cordon Bleu culinary school at the time.  I loved my experience and wanted to buy some of their cookbooks but had a hard time locating them in stores.  At some point I discovered Amazon and was finally able to buy this book....which ultimately led to my regular habit/addiction/obsession of purchasing cookbooks on Amazon.

This book features complete menus that can be made in 30 minutes.  The menus include an entree, side or two, and sometimes a beverage. A helpful cooking plan lists the steps order so all of the dishes are ready at the same time. There are often several variations on the meal as well.  The Tropical French Toast recipe had Pineapple-Coconut,  Macadamia-Banana, and Papaya versions.

Why I Chose This Recipe

I made Pineapple-Coconut French Toast for Mother's Day brunch.  My mom loved anything tropical or Hawaiian.  Macadamia nuts were her all-time favorite, and she loved pineapple and coconut.  She would have LOVED this recipe. 

Pineapple-Coconut French Toast

How Was It?

This was FANTASTIC!  After prepping and measuring the ingredients it took just over 30 minutes to assemble and cook the French Toast.   Slices of  bread are placed in a pan and a batter of eggs, pineapple juice, and macadamia nuts is poured over it.  After a few minutes of soaking the bread is placed on a buttered sheet pan and baked. It is then topped with crushed pineapple, toasted macadamia nuts, toasted coconut flakes, and powdered sugar.  I served it with bacon and fresh strawberries on the side. 

The only thing missing was my Mom.

My mom's first Mother's Day. That adorable baby is me.

 My mom in Hawaii, her favorite place. 

I'm 100% certain she ordered something with macadamia nuts, pineapple, and/or coconut.

What's Next?

The next cookbook in my Cook the Bookshelf Challenge will be '101 Slow-Cooker Recipes' from The Gooseberry Patch.

Click here for previous Cook the Bookshelf Challenge posts.