Texas toast

Texas Toast is a type of pre-sliced packaged bread which is sliced at double the thickness of ordinary bread. The name is somewhat misleading as it is not yet toast when it is sold this way. While it can be used in the same manner as ordinary bread slices such as in sandwiches, it is especially useful for dishes involving liquids or where extra thickness can improve the product, such as French Toast and for bread used in Fondue. Producers of Texas Toast include the 'Wonder Bread' variety, Mrs. Bairds, and Safeway/Lucerne Foods. [ [http://www.usbakery.com/index.php?page=franz-texas-toast Franz Family Bakeries - Texas Toast] ] . Popular in Texas and the states surrounding it, it is generally served toasted as a side with southern-style dishes such as chicken-fried steak, fried catfish [ [http://www.rbbq.net/friday.htm R - Bar B Que] ] , or BBQ [ [http://www.nmgastronome.com/abq/barbecue/big.htm Gil's Thrilling Web Site] ] [ [http://ribcrib.com/html/menu_combo-dinners.htm RibCrib BBQ and Grill ] ] . Texas Toast can also be used when making toasted sandwiches [ [http://www.sonicdrivein.com/menu/toasterSandwiches2.jsp SONIC — Toaster Sandwiches] ] .

Texas Toast-style bread, because of its thickness, is often used by restaurants and cafeterias for dipping into egg batter and grilling on a flat top grill to create French toast. The crust is much softer than French bread so it is easier to cut when eating. Its thickness allows it to hold together better than regular bread making a much more attractive presentation when plated.

Texas toast is made from the thick slices of bread when buttered on both sides and broiled until lightly golden brown. Depending on the recipe, the butter may have seasonings such as garlic. The toast may have cheese on one or both sides. "Texas toast" is also the brand name of a frozen garlic toast (a variation on garlic bread) product made by Pepperidge Farm.

Some recipes include regular, or thick, sliced bread being cooked in a frying pan that has just been used to fry steak, bacon, or other meat product in order to absorb the grease from the meat.

History

The Texas toast was first served at the Pig Stands on Calder Avenue in Beaumont, Texas. [ [http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/texas_toast/ Texas Toast] ] Royce Hailey requested that the bread from the Rainbo bakery be sliced thicker, but the bread came out too thick for the toaster, so a cook buttered both sides of the bread and placed it on the griddle to toast it medium brown.

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