Celebrating Saint Nick

The best part about the Feast of Saint Nicholas is that for those who wish to separate the Secular Santa Clause from the birth of Christ, this gives you a way to do it gracefully without appearing to be some sort of a Scrooge. It also lets you open your home to others in the spirit of Christmas Giving.

When Kiddo was a little guy he attended a modified year-round school. We had the entire month of October off (great for family vacations without the typical summer crowd), three weeks at Christmas and two for Easter. Often on the Saturday closest to the Feast of Saint Nicholas we hosted a Christmas Party. Kiddo would invite his friends from school, church and scouting along with their entire families. The house was filled with merriment. Some years it was a big event with Santa stopping by. Other years it was a cookie exchange, cookie decorating party or Gingerbread building. It was always geared to the children, as Saint Nicholas Day should be.

I miss those traditions. We don’t have little one for the Holidays anymore. I would love to have a cookie decorating or gingerbread building soiree for my extended family, but finding even a moment that we are all free during the hectic Holiday season in nearly impossible. These days I snuggle down with my guys and enjoy the quiet of a morning just us, and a French Toast Breakfast fitting Saint Nick.

Orange-Cinnamon Kissed French Toast
4 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoons Orange Blossom Honey
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
3 Eggs
1 cup Orange Juice
Pinch Salt
6 thick slices Brioche Bread
Additional Orange Blossom Honey as desired
Powdered Sugar for dusting

Heat oven to 400-degrees. Lightly grease a rimmed baking pan. Set aside.

Melt butter in a small bowl. Combine melted butter with honey and cinnamon. Pour into the prepared baking pan, spread to coat the bottom.

In a shallow bowl or pie tin beat eggs, orange juice and a pinch of salt. Dip bread into the egg mixture, then lay in the prepared baking dish. Bake in the heated oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown, Invert onto individual plates, drizzle with honey and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

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Praise the LORD, for He is good;
sing praise to our God, for He is gracious;