This isn’t the fancy-schmancy version with heavy cream, tons of eggs, and soaked for hours and baked in the oven. This is quick morning routine version, or the post-party 3AM version… and takes only 20 minutes to prepare, and still seems pretty darn fancy.

• About six day-old 3/4″ slices of pugliese style bread
• 1 cup whole milk
• two large eggs
• 1/4 cup Grand Marnier
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

Mix the liquid ingredients and orange zest together and then soak the bread pieces in a cake pan (or ziplock bag) for at least five minutes. With a preheated pan and 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter, cook the pieces on each side until brown and crispy. Top with confectioner’s sugar if you wish. Goes well with orange butter, marmalade, or maple syrup… maybe even all of the above.