Filled Baked French Toast

Serves 6-8

4-6 ounces cream cheese

1/3 cup orange marmalade

12 slices French Bread-cut into 1 ½” slices (I use whole wheat French bread often!)

4 eggs

2/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup milk

¼ cup sugar

¼ heaping teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 stick unsalted butter

½ cup chopped pecans

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

In a small bowl mix cream cheese and marmalade together.  Cut slits into French bread and stuff each slice of bread with about 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture.  Butter a 9X13 glass baking dish and lay slices of filled bread down in the pan.  In mixing bowl beat together eggs, orange juice, milk, sugar, nutmeg, and vanilla.  Pour mixture over the bread slices, cover, and place in the refrigerator overnight.  Melt butter and dip both sides of each slice of bread into the butter and place slices on a baking sheet.  Sprinkle pecans and cinnamon over the top and bake in a 375 degree oven for 20 – 25 minutes.  Serve with warm maple syrup.