50 Shades of Toast

While America celebrates Valentine’s weekend with the film release of movie that we’d all be better off without {read why here}; me, myself, and I will be celebrating Single’s Awareness Day with toast. But I get to double up my celebration because today’s my birthday. The 13^th of February. The day before Valentine’s. Hence my name, Valory {thanks mom and dad}. But back to the toast….

Toast is simple. I like simple things. I’m a busy college student and musician that likes to cook but doesn’t have much time for it. It’s also versatile – you can pair it with other foods or make it a meal in itself by topping it with an endless list of sweet and savory things. A girl’s gotta have options, you know?

Toast is kind of like a hug but for your mouth. It is crunchy on the outside but warm and soft on the inside, and it never fails to make you feel good. So should you eat it for breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Brunch? A snack? The choice is yours, my friend. Have it your way. I’ve got 50 shades of toast for you today…you know…for a start.

For starters – to make the best toast, you’ve got to start with the best bread. Different breads go with different toppings – you know, the nutty flavor of wheat bread pairs well with nut butters. Or a tangy sourdough pairs well with a salty cheese. Pumpernickel is a great base for avocado.  My favorite bread that I use for most of these creations is Ezekiel Bread. It’s organic, simple, and tastes good with everything!

1. Made with love and butter toast
2. Ooey gooey melty cheese toast
3. Jammin toast with jam
   

   Holiday Nog French Toast

4. Sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar
5. Vanilla chai French toast – spice up your regular French toast by adding vanilla extract, cinnamon, cardamom, and a little ginger mixed with eggs and milk
6. Dark chocolate almond butter and sour cherry jam
7. Classic Pb&J
8. Simple blueberry syrup – combine fresh or frozen blueberries, sugar, water, a squirt of lemon or lime juice and bring to boil and simmer in a pan until it reaches a syrup texture. Serve on toast!
9. Maple brown sugar waffle toast – dip your bread in a French toast-like mixture of eggs, milk, and maple syrup. Place the dipped bread and put in waffle maker until its crisp and golden. Melt brown sugar and butter and pour it over the waffle toast when it’s done!
10. Apple butter and cinnamon
11. Holiday egg nog French toast – instead of milk, add Silk dairy-free egg nog and cinnamon to the egg mixture and BAM. Christmas morning breakfast is served!
    

    Nutella Banana Toast

12. Avocado sprinkled with pomegranate seeds
13. Almond butter and banana
14. Cream cheese and homemade Chia Seed Fruit Spread – blend together a cup of your favorite berries, scoop of chia seeds, and sweeten it with honey or agave nectar, let it sit in fridge for a couple hours and it’s ready to go!
15. Dark chocolate almond butter and strawberries
16. Mashed bananas sprinkled with cinnamon
17. Peanut butter and apple slices
18. Nutella and pear slices
19. Nutella and pomegranate seeds
20. Nutella AND almond butter (Or peanut butter) with bananas
21. Cream Cheese with fresh raspberries and lemon juice
22. Strawberries and cream – just mix strawberries with cream cheese!
23. Sliced banana drizzled with honey and sprinkled with almonds
24. Sophisticated marmalade – perhaps orange marmalade? For a Classy Brunch!

25. Avocado with sriracha sauce, lime and edamame
26. Avocado and pico de gallo – basically guacamole on toast….Fiesta Time!
27. Mayo-wasabi spread with tuna – mix some LIGHT mayo and wasabi paste and top with tuna slices
28. Pesto and sun-dried tomatoes
29. Pesto with Parmesan cheese – it’s best if you put the pesto and parmesan THEN toast it

30. Avocado with sweet mango slices and thinly sliced red oion
31. Pimiento cheese toast
32. Pizza Toast – spread with tomato sauce, top with cheese, pepperoni, etc. and toast in the oven
33. Cashew cream, lime juice, and cucumber slices – soak cashews in water overnight, drain, put in a blender or processor with a little water and it’s ready to spread
34. Thanksgiving leftovers – cranberry sauce, turkey slices, and cracked pepper
35. Avocado tuna melt- spread with avocado, top with sliced tuna and cheese; broil it in the oven for a quick minute
36. Toad in the Hole- Fried Egg – use a cookie cutter to take the center out of your toast, put some olive oil in a pan, place toast in pan and crack an egg in the center of the toast, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and fry the toad in the hole to your liking
37. Cannellini beans mixed with olive oil, lemon juice, and cracked pepper – place cannellini beans, olive oil, and lemon juice in blender until smooth
38. Sauteed kale and roasted sweet potato toast – saute some kale in olive oil and seasonings of your choice; roast diced sweet potato in oven, top on toast with melted cheese
39. Avocado sprinkled with feta and fresh mint leaves
40. Slices of smoked salmon, avocado, lime and cracked pepper

41. Avocado, sliced tomato, and a sprinkle of black pepper
42. Hummus and red pepper
43. Spinach cheese melt – sprinkle cheese on top of spinach and toast in oven until cheese is melted
44. Bruschetta – top toast with a mixture of a little olive oil, basil, garlic powder and diced tomato
45. Arugula, diced cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of garlic powder
46. Sauteed mushrooms with thyme and Parmesan
47. Mushrooms, red Onion, and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese
48. Grilled cheese with tomato and spinach
49. Basil cherry tomatoes – sautee chopped cherry tomatoes and season with garlic and basil
50. BLT – Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato… #duh

……and the list could go on. But I’m going to stop here. It’s my birthday and I’m ready to celebrate with some toast! What are your favorite ways to love toast???

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Written by Valory Hight – Val is a new author at Sweet Cayenne and is the 3rd of the 4 Hight sisters. She is currently applying to  music conservatories to  further her aspiration to become a  professional violinist. She’s been playing violin since  the  age of 3 and is a true artist with an eclectic sense of style. She is a kindred foodie spirit  with Whitney but prefers vegetarian creations, and loves to live life vicariously via Snap Chat.