Night Before French Toast

8 or 9 1-inch slices of French bread, cut from loaf

6 beaten eggs

2/3 cup milk

1 tsp. cinnamon

Pinch of ground cloves

1½ tsp. vanilla

1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1 stick margarine

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup brown sugar

Spray a 9 X 13" pan with cooking spray. Put bread in pan. In separate bowl, beat eggs with milk, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover with foil & refrigerate overnight. Next morning: melt margarine, brown sugar & syrup. Remove bread from the pan & place on platter. Sprinkle nuts (optional) on bottom of pan that held the bread, then pour in butter-sugar mixture. Put bread on top. Drizzle any remaining egg mixture left in platter over bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 min., uncovered, until puffy & dry to touch on top.