Carambola Rum French Toast

     Carambola gives this French Toast recipe a tropical flair.  The light citrus, limeade flavor of green carambola is perfect for a light syrup.  Ripe orange carambola can be used for this recipe too.  Ripe carambola has a light sweet mango citrus flavor.
    
     Carambola Rum Syrup:
     Boil 1/3 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of water in a small sauce pot over medium high heat.
     When the sugar cooks to the light yellow amber stage, add 1/2 cup of chopped carambola.
     Reduce the temperature to medium heat.
     Allow the molten yellow amber sugar coat the fruit for a minute.  (Do not stir or the sugar will stick to the spoon liked candy!)
     Add 2 ounces of rum.
     Add 3 drops of vanilla extract.
     Add 1 cup of water.
     Bring the liquid to a gentle boil.
     Reduce the temperature to low heat.
     Simmer and reduce the liquid, till it becomes a thin syrup consistency.
     Pour the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a second sauce pot.
     Keep the syrup warm over very low heat.
 
     French Toast Batter: 
     Place two eggs in a mixing bowl.
     Add an equal amount of milk.
     Add 1 pinch of cinnamon.
     Add 1 pinch of nutmeg.
     Add 4 drops of vanilla extract.
     Whisk the French toast batter, till it becomes well blended.
    
     Carambola Rum French Toast: 
     Cut two thick long bias slices of French Bread.  (If the French bread has a chewy crust texture, then the crust should be trimmed off!)
     Heat a non-stick saute pan over medium/medium low heat.
     Add 3 pats of unsalted butter.
     Dip the French bread slices in the batter and then place them in the hot butter in the pan.
     Cook the French toast, till it becomes a golden brown color on both sides.
     Place the French toast on a cutting board.
     Dust the French toast with powdered sugar.
     Place the French toast on a plate.
     Add 7 or 8 carambola slices to the hot syrup in the sauce pot, so they become warm.
     Place the warm carambola fruit slices across the French toast.
     Pour the carambola rum syrup over the French toast and onto the plate.
    
     Delicious!  The light flavor of carambola and rum turns this French toast into a Caribbean flavor sensation.  French bread is a nice choice for a pretty looking French toast.  Yummy!  ...  Shawna