Ingredients

1 loaf French bread, unsliced 
1 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans 
2 Tbsp. finely grated orange zest 
2 cups milk 
3 eggs, well beaten 
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Slice French bread in 3 inch-increments. In each slice, make a slit over halfway through the middle to create a pocket. Cream together the cream cheese, nuts and orange zest. Stuff cream cheese mixture into the pocket of the bread. Combine milk, egg and vanilla and dip each slice of bread, coating on both sides. On a buttered griddle, fry on both sides until golden. As an option, serve with warmed maple syrup and sprinkle with powdered sugar.