How to make Mom some Challah French toast for Mother's Day

Apnews - May 7th, 2025
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Cooking a special brunch for Mother's Day can be a delightful gift, and French toast is an ideal choice due to its simplicity and deliciousness. This article provides a detailed guide on how to make perfect French toast using challah bread, a favorite for its rich, custardy texture when soaked and cooked. The piece includes step-by-step instructions, tips for perfect results, and serving suggestions to create a memorable Mother's Day experience.

French toast, also known as 'pain perdu' in France or 'eggy toast' in other regions, is steeped in history and culinary tradition. While its name might suggest French origins, it was likely named after Joseph French, who popularized it. The article emphasizes the importance of using slightly stale bread and provides various topping ideas to enhance the dish. This guide not only offers a recipe but also contextualizes French toast within broader cultural and culinary narratives, highlighting its enduring popularity.

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RATING

6.4
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article is a well-written and engaging piece that provides a practical recipe and tips for making French toast, particularly for Mother's Day celebrations. Its strengths lie in its clarity, readability, and timeliness, making it an accessible and enjoyable read for those interested in culinary topics. However, the article could benefit from enhanced accuracy and source quality, particularly regarding historical claims about French toast. The lack of diverse perspectives and transparency in sourcing limits its depth, but this is somewhat offset by its clear purpose as a lifestyle piece. Overall, the article successfully fulfills its goal of providing cooking inspiration, though it remains a light and informal read without significant broader impact or controversy.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story makes several factual claims about the cultural and historical aspects of French toast, such as its various names around the world and the suggestion that its name may originate from a person named Joseph French rather than from France itself. These claims are generally accurate but require historical verification to confirm their truthfulness. The article also provides practical cooking advice and a recipe, which are straightforward and verifiable through culinary sources. However, the claim about the origin of the name 'French toast' is more anecdotal and would benefit from historical evidence to improve accuracy.

6
Balance

The article predominantly focuses on the culinary aspects of French toast and its preparation, with a light-hearted tone about Mother's Day. It does not present multiple perspectives, as it is primarily a lifestyle piece aimed at providing a recipe and cooking tips. The balance could be improved by including perspectives on the cultural significance of Mother's Day or the varying traditions associated with it. However, given the article's purpose, the lack of diverse viewpoints is somewhat expected.

8
Clarity

The article is clear and well-structured, with a conversational tone that makes it accessible to a general audience. The language is straightforward, and the recipe is presented in a logical sequence, making it easy to follow. The humorous and engaging writing style enhances readability, though some might find the informal tone less suitable for a factual piece.

5
Source quality

The article is written by a food writer for the Associated Press, which lends some credibility to the content. However, it does not cite specific sources or experts to support the historical claims about French toast. The piece relies on the author's expertise and anecdotal evidence, which can limit the depth of information. Including references to culinary historians or cultural experts would enhance the source quality and reliability.

6
Transparency

The article is transparent in its purpose as a lifestyle piece offering a recipe and cooking tips. However, it lacks transparency in the basis for some of its historical claims, such as the origin of the name 'French toast.' The author does not disclose any methodology or sources for these claims, which could impact the perceived impartiality and reliability of the information provided.

Sources

  1. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/284924/challah-french-toast/
  2. https://www.bowenislandundercurrent.com/the-mix/challah-french-toast-is-a-simple-but-indulgent-breakfast-to-make-mom-on-mothers-day-10624723
  3. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/285502/baked-challah-french-toast/
  4. https://www.themediterraneandish.com/challah-french-toast/
  5. https://www.sfgate.com/living/article/challah-french-toast-is-a-simple-but-indulgent-20314647.php