I like to serve this rather rustic-looking breakfast entree with a fruit butter and garnish it with fresh mint sprigs. Apple butter is my own favorite fruit "butter." I make it with two cups of dried apples cooked in two cups of apple juice along with a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and a half-teaspoon of ground allspice, until they are soft, about 20 minutes. After it has cooled I blend the mixture in a food processor until it is satin smooth and store it, tightly covered, in the refrigerator. However, there are many other sugar-free fruit butters available in the jam section of your market, such as peach and pear, which are also wonderful on this crunchy toast. Of course, in Texas, they usually serve it with maple syrup.

TEXAS TOAST

2 egg whites, beaten until frothy

1 tablespoon skim milk

1 teaspoons frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate, undiluted

2 slices whole grain bread

cup bran flakes

cup fruit butter, such as apple, peach or pear, optional

4 mint sprigs for garnish, optional
Combine the egg whites, milk and apple juice concentrate in a bowl and mix well.

Place the bread in a shallow dish just large enough to hold it. Pour the egg mixture over the bread and allow it to soak in. Turn bread over and allow to stand until all liquid is absorbed.

Top each slice of soaked bread with 2 tablespoons bran flakes and press them in. Place bread flaked side down in a large, hot, non-stick skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Top each slice of bread with 2 tablespoons of the remaining bran flakes, pressing them in firmly. Cook the bread until well-browned, about 5 minutes. Carefully turn the bread slices over, using a spatula, and brown the other side, about 5 minutes.

To serve, cut each slice of Texas Toast in quarters on the diagonal and place 4 triangles of toast on each of 2 plates. Top each toast quarter with 1 teaspoons of fruit butter and garnish each plate with a mint sprig, if desired.

Makes 2 servings.

Each serving contains approximately 185 calories, 2 grams fat, no cholesterol, 321 milligrams sodium, 34 grams carbohydrates, 9 grams protein, 5 grams fiber.