One of the best - as served on the Sante Fe Railroad's "Super Chief" cross country train:

Santa Fe Railroad French Toast

3 slices three-day-old bread, cut ¾ inch thick

4 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup light cream

¼ tsp. salt

Confectioners’ sugar

Warm syrup


Cut firm homemade-style bread into ¾-inch slices. Trim crusts from bread and cut each slice into a triangle.

Combine beaten eggs, cream and salt. Dip bread triangles in the mixture, allowing the bread to absorb as much of custard as possible.

Meantime, preheat ½-inch oil in an electric skillet to 350 degrees. Also preheat an oven to 400 degrees.

Using tongs, transfer the soaked bread to preheated oil. When first side is brown, turn to second side. Remove browned pieces to a shallow sided pan such as a jelly roll pan.

Bake the browned French toast in a 400-degree oven until puffed, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Drain quickly on paper toweling. Transfer to a warm platter. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar and serve with warm syrup. Makes 3 servings, two triangles per serving.