Happy Saturday!! I am so grateful for this weekend after a week of cold, harsh weather. This decadent dish is similar to a stuffed french toast teetering the line of eat-with-your-hands or a fork. Either way it’s indulgent and decidedly delicious. Tart, lightly sweet, and showered in dark chocolate – a special way to welcome in a leisurely weekend.

SERVINGS: 4

Ingredients

1 cup dried apricots
1 tsp orange zest
1 orange (large)
vanilla bean (split down the middle)
1/2 cup water
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 loaf challah (or Brioche cut in 1” slices)
8 ozs mascarpone (tub)
apricots (I recipe stewed)
1 bread (recipe, dip)
3 ozs dark chocolate

Preparation

For Stewed Apricots:
1 cup dried apricots
1 teaspoon orange zest
juice from one large orange
vanilla bean, split down the middle
½ cup water

Combine all the ingredients in a small sauce pan. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the cover and continue to simmer until most of the liquid is gone. Use a wooden spoon to smash and break up the apricots just a bit.
Let cool for about 20 minutes, or until just warm.

For Bread Dip:
3 eggs
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 Tablespoon sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Whisk all the ingredients together in a shallow bowl or pie plate.

For the sandwich you’ll need:
1 loaf Challah or Brioche cut in 1” slices
1 8oz tub Mascarpone
1 recipe (above) stewed apricots
1 recipe (above) bread dip
3 oz dark chocolate

Pre-heat an indoor grill or grill pan.
Quickly dip one slice of bread into the bread dip and let the excess drip off.
Add about 2 Tablespoons Mascarpone to the bread. Top with several pieces of stewed apricots and finish with finely shaved dark chocolate.
Top the sandwich with another piece of bread that has been quickly dipped in the bread dip.

Immediately grill until grill marks form, cheese and chocolate are melted and the bread is cooked through – about 5-7 minutes. Slice, dust with powdered sugar and serve immediately.