In case you missed my post yesterday, I’m taking a quick break from my lunch box series to host and participate in an Instagram challenge. Today’s theme is breakfast.
While I was looking through my WWII era cookbooks, I ran across a recipe that was almost exactly the same as a favorite breakfast recipe my dad made us when we were growing up in the ‘80s. My dad didn’t cook much, but this was something he made as an occasional treat for breakfast.
The recipe comes from the 1944 edition of The Good Housekeeping Cook Book. I was happy to see that they offered flavor variations, so I included those, too.
Cinnamon Toast
Spread 6 slices of white, whole wheat, or raisin bread with 2 tbsp butter, margarine, fat, or salad oil. Trim the crusts if desired. Blend 1 tsp cinnamon with 3 tbsp granulated sugar and sprinkle over the bread. Place in a moderate oven at 350 degrees F or in the broiler oven until the sugar melts. Cut into strips or triangles and serve warm. Brown sugar, honey, grated cheese, or a mixture of 1 tsp each of orange juice and grated orange rind and 1/2 c granulated sugar can be substituted for the cinnamon mixture.
Notes
I used white bread and butter. I used the broiler option, and I also added a little more cinnamon to the cinnamon mixture. My local store was out of oranges, so I had to skip the orange peel in the orange version. I decided I wanted to make some using the method my dad used when we were kids. He just buttered the bread and added the sugar and cinnamon separately before putting the bread in the broiler. Putting the sugar and cinnamon on separately does make a difference in the way the end result looks. It also tastes a little different when you make it that way. I think it’s because there ends up being quite a bit more cinnamon on each piece of toast. You can see the difference in the pictures below.
Results
Out of all of the recipes I’ve put on this blog, this one has been the favorite by far. I made 18 pieces of toast and they were devoured in just a few minutes. I do have a large family, but these sweet toast slices disappeared especially fast. I also enjoyed the nostalgia of running across the recipe and making it for my kids to enjoy like I did when I was little.
Each person had their favorite today, so there was no verdict as to which the best version was. Two people liked the honey version best. Several people loved the orange. My dad’s method of making the cinnamon sugar ones was a hit, as well. I was surprised at how much I liked the brown sugar toast. My personal favorites were the orange and, of course, my dad’s version. All were sweet and just the right combination of crisp crust and chewy middle. I highly recommend any of these. I would suggest adding some sausage and bacon, and perhaps an egg to round out the meal.
Please join my friends and I on Instagram to either follow along or cook with us as we work our way through the different themes. I’d love to see what you come up with. Remember to use #ww2rationcookin to share what you’ve made. I hope to see you there!
History in the Kitchen 