TOAST (excluded from the cookbook)

All it is is a slice of bread that has undergone broiling (usually electrical). Yet it seems to bring joy to the breakfast table.

I lived with a cook who did not use devices to measure anything. He'd shake from a shaker, pinch from a dish, or pour a handful in his palm. When he'd buy meat, he would break it up into consumable portions and seal these portions in freezer bags.

I used to laugh when I'd say, "You do know that when you pass away, your recipe for oil and vinegar will be gone forever." Yes, he could even work magic on something as banal as Italian salad dressing. (I use Good Seasons).

Some things we simply assume are done without instruction. Everyone has a toaster. That's how you make toast.

I retired mine a long time ago. It took up space on the counter and I wasn't eating bread that much. There isn't much else that goes into a pop up toaster except maybe frozen waffles. I don't eat frozen waffles. And I've learned that toast can be made in the broiler.

...

I guess I owe myself an apology. Not counting French toast (since that's just bread dipped in egg wash and fried), there is indeed a recipe for 'Toasts' in my cookbook. They are referred to as tea toasts. The instructions are:

"Cut bread very thin. If desired, remove crusts, cut slices into halves or strips. Spread hot toast with butter, then with desired mixture. Place under broiler long enough to melt sugar, about 2 minutes."

My go-to cookbook lists the options as cinnamon toast, honey cinnamon toast, honey toast, maple toast, orange toast, vanilla baked toast, melba toast, yeast strips, milk toast, cream toast, toast points, toast cups, croustades, and croutons.

I used to make bread decades ago (in my 20s and 30s) when I lived on the east coast and the dough would take its time rising in the cold apartment. The apartment would also warm up and smell wonderful when the bread would be baking in the oven. I had bread books and had some award-winning recipes such as English muffin loaf or Pullman loaf. Neither of these can be easily found in any bakery. But, when you are struggling to lose weight, bread is probably not the smartest thing to have on the ready.

Perhaps when I reach my goal, I will treat myself to some finger sandwiches with afternoon tea.