Cheese’N Honey Toast

16 (1/2-inch) slices French bread (an 8-oz. loaf)
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
1/2 cup honey
4 eggs
1/2 cup fat-free half and half
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup toasted, chopped pecans
2 tablespoons butter
Sliced bananas optional

Spread 8 slices of bread with cream cheese. Top each slice with another French bread slice. Place 8 cream cheese sandwiches in an 8 x 8-inch casserole dish. Beat honey, eggs, half and half and cinnamon in a bowl; Beat until blended.
Pour batter mixture over sandwiches, turning sandwiches in batter. Refrigerate overnight or for several hours, turning sandwiches several times to absorb batter.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, melt one tablespoon of butter. Remove sandwiches from batter, place sandwiches in a skillet and brown both sides, flipping again, if necessary, to make sure batter is cooked and sandwiches are crisp (about 2 minutes). Repeat cooking process using additional butter to brown other sandwiches.

Sprinkle with chopped nuts and serve with honey.

*May also serve with banana slices.