I’ve been thinking about what, if anything, I should end the year with. I previously wrote here what I have been thinking about these past few days. As I read and reread what I wrote, I realized that I didn’t quite understand what I was trying to say. If I can’t figure it out, I don’t feel like I should force it on you. But I’m sure of one thing: I have plenty of panettone on hand.
This has been a great year in many ways. The book I spent nearly two years writing has been published, and a revised and updated cookbook, which turns ten this March, will be released this spring. I also got to spend time with my family, whom I hadn’t seen in a while. Not bad for doing this in November, 90 degree weather.
One of the best articles I’ve read this year is How to Overcome Decision Fatigue . It is estimated that we make 35,000 decisions every day, 226 of which are food-related. I can safely say that I could probably multiply that number by four or five. (Don’t get me started on how many times I’ve struggled to buy plane tickets.) All the thinking and overthinking we do – is it worth it?
I don’t know, but I’ve decided to do whatever I can to make fewer decisions in the coming year. The year ended with a book tour. Not only was I surprised to be able to meet so many of you, but it was also such a joy to have the people at the venue hosting my event.
During a podcast interview, I realized that I have been blogging for almost twenty years. It started as a place to share stories and recipes, something silly (a haiku about Italian sweets), an idea after I lost a good friend. Things change, like I finally have someone to set up print options for recipes (thanks Emily!), but most of the technical stuff that needs to be added or needs to be updated every year is in the back of my mind. So I have to calm down and think of a solution.
But I consider myself lucky. When a recipe I’m testing doesn’t work, or I make a mistake in the kitchen, or mess up a tech gadget, I think about how many people don’t even have food to eat or electricity. Here I am, worrying about an unbalanced pie crust or a missing apostrophe. So as the year ends, I want to thank you for putting food on the table and everyone in my life, including you, my readers, for always being there for me.
French toastthe French call it pain (Losing Bread), doesn’t involve too much decision-making. But when I received an unexpected gift – several panettone pastries, I used some of my bounty to make French toast. So I’m going to end this year in a simpler way than I imagined.
Recently on my book tour, while hanging out in a hotel room, I heard something. This is from the great Judith Sheindlin, also known as Judge Judy. She was hosting two people who had issues with each other and they took those issues to social media. When two people started arguing again in front of her, she quickly interrupted them (as she famously does) and said, “I think social media is supposed to bring people together!?” Despite all the noise and sometimes disagreements, I’m glad we’re still together after all these years.
Panettone French Toast
raw material
- 2 big egg
- 6 spoon whole milk
- 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- pinch Salt
- 4 slice Panettone About 1 1/4 inches (4 cm) thick)
- butter For frying French toast
instruct
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In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt with a fork. Place the bread slices into the custard, pressing lightly to help the bread absorb the custard, then flip the bread slices over and do the same with the other side of the bread.
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Heat a large knob of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the custard-soaked bread slices to the pan and cook until browned on the bottom, about a minute. Flip the bread slices over and cook on the other side until the bottom is browned.