Marcus Aurelius and an Oat Banana Baked French Toast

Hello, everyone!

I have two good things to share today.

The first one is a great lecture on Marcus Aurelius, and the second is a recipe for an oat banana baked toast that I found on Pinterest.

I listened to the “Best Lecture on Stoicism" yesterday. I have previously liked the brief video on stoicism, STOICISM - MEDITATIONS BY MARCUS AURELIUS ANIMATED BOOK REVIEW by FightMediocrity, so I decided to watch more on the Roman emperor. I was not disappointed. The lecture was dynamic, well presented, without a whiff of stale academics. And of course, it was relevant, especially today, when we have a crisis in leadership at all levels. There were several highlights in the talk; for example, one was the thought of why it is pointless to be mean to each other – after all we all will die. But as it is with any great piece of art (or in this case, a great philosophy), I am sure that when you listen to the lecture, you will find your own “best moments” to appreciate and think about.
 

Oat Banana Baked French Toast: added sugar-free version

So much for the food for the soul. Now about the food that keeps the body engine going. I found the recipe for an oat-banana baked French toast on Pinterest; however, it was a bit decadent for my taste (with nut butter, maple syrup, etc.). So, I skipped these and instead of any bread, I used double fiber bread, added two eggs for protein and five tablespoons of cream of wheat (I need the iron). I also scaled up the recipe to six servings to be prepared in a single baking pan. By the way, the author of the original recipe is Amanda @ Running with Spoons. Thank you, Amanda! Here is my modified version:

Ingredients (for six servings):
· 3 bananas, mashed
· 1.5 (or more) cups unsweetened almond milk (found in any supermarket, even ours!)
· 2 Tbsp ground cinnamon
· 2 Tbsp vanilla
· 6 slices of Double Fiber bread, cubed
· 1.5 cups oats
· 2 eggs
· 5 Tbsp cream of wheat (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375F, prepare a pan with a non-stick spray.
2. Mix the eggs, milk, mashed bananas, and cream of wheat. Add the cinnamon and vanilla. Soak the bread cubes and oats in the mixture, stir.
3. Transfer the mixture to the pan.
4. Bake for 45 minutes. I baked mine in a toaster-oven and used a clean knife to test for readiness (if the knife comes out clean, the toast is ready).

The verdict?  The “toast” was edible, with a very mild taste; however, if you are not used to low- or no-sugar food, it would take some adjustment of your palate. If you have a sweet tooth, I suggest to start the recipe with a tablespoon or two of maple syrup, and then wean yourself to no additional sugar (other than the sugar from the banana). You could add a few walnuts and raisins, which would make the taste more interesting. Overall, it is a thumbs-up recipe and I am planning on perfecting it further this holiday season!