Strawberry Cream Cheese French Toast from Mid Atlantic Cookbook

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE FRENCH TOAST
 Country Hearth B&B, New Holland, PA

Ingredients:

2 1/2 Cups Fresh Strawberries
1 Loaf Italian Bread
1 - 8 oz. pkg. Cream Cheese
1 Dozen Eggs
2 Cups Half and Half
1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
1 Cup Sugar
2 Tbsp. Cornstarch
1 Tbsp. Butter

Instructions:

Slice the bread into one inch thick pieces and place in a greased 13" x 9"  baking dish to cover the bottom.  Spread cream cheese onto bread and sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of strawberries on top.  Cube the remaining bread and put on top of strawberries.  Pour the half and half into blender, then add the eggs and blend.  Add the maple syrup and again, blend.  Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, strawberry, and cream cheese mixture.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Remove the dish from the refrigerator 45 minutes before baking.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bake, covered with foil, for 30 minutes; remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes or until french toast is puffed and golden. 
To Prepare Sauce:  In a small saucepan, stir together the sugar, cornstarch and one cup of water.  Cook over moderately high heat stirring occasionally for five minutes or until mixture has thickened.  Stir in the strawberries and simmer stirring occasionally for ten minutes or until the berries have softened.  Add the butter and stir until melted.  Serve over the french toast.  Enjoy!