Marmalade French Toast Casserole

(photo courtesy of Becky Luigart-Stayner; Leigh Ann Ross, CookingLight.com)

I made this when my in-laws were visiting and I think we all loved it (unless they were just humoring me ... but either way, I loved it)! Such a delcious and easy take on french toast. I got it from CookingLight.com. Please oh please serve it with orange syrup, it makes it SO much better (at least in my opinion).

To make the orange syrup you simply add one teaspoon orange rind and two tablespoons juice per 1/2 cup syrup then warm it in the mircrowave. So good!

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 piece)

Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 (16-ounce) sourdough French bread loaf, cut into 24 (1/2-inch) slices
- Cooking spray
- 1 (12-ounce) jar orange marmalade
- 2 3/4 cups 1% low-fat milk
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (I added a little cinnamon too)
- 6 large eggs
- 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts (I used pecans instead)

Preparation
1. Spread softened butter on one side of each bread slice. Arrange 12 bread slices, buttered side down, slightly overlapping in a single layer in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spread marmalade evenly over bread (I only used half the jar and it was enough); top with remaining 12 bread slices, buttered side up.

2. Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (through eggs), stirring with a whisk. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

3. Preheat oven to 350°.

4. Sprinkle casserole with walnuts (or pecans). Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until golden. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Nutritional Information
Calories:293 (28% from fat)
Fat:9g (sat 3.2g,mono 2.2g,poly 2.3g)
Protein:9.1g
Carbohydrate:46.4g
Fiber:1.6g
Cholesterol:116mg
Iron:2.2mg
Sodium:315mg
Calcium:132mg