Apricot Goat Cheese Stuffed French Toast

So today's recipe meets with mixed success. I've been thinking about doing something like this for quite some time and when I found apricot goat choose at the local farmer's market it seemed like the right time. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who can literally spend all day in the grocery store. When I went to get my supplies for the french toast it took me an hour of wandering through Trader Joe's just to decide on the bread, due to price ($5 a loaf) I opted out of the Holiday Challah bread and went with the cheap wheat french loaf. I'm thinking the challah might have done a better job of soaking up the egg mixture, but I that will be for the next attempt. Overall, I'd say this recipe was fairly successful, however, do to a syrup fail(the mixture never thickened), I'm only giving it a B+  With any luck on my next attempt I will be able to pound out the things I didn't like.

The recipe below is pretty solid.

French Toast:
4-6 thick slices of bread (1-1 1/2 in)
4 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/4 teaspoon cloves

Stuffing:
2 tablespoons Aprciot Goat Cheese (or 2 tablespoons goat cheese and 1 1/2 tables apricot preserves)
1 tablespoon Sour cream

Cut a pocket into the bread bylaying your hand flat on the top of the bread and slicing half way through the side. Combine stuffing ingredient and using a small kitchen spoon, place in pocket. Be careful not to let any of the filling squish out the edge. combine eggs, milk, and spices. Placed stuffed bread in egg mixture and allow it to set for about a minute per side. This will help make the bread soak up the mixtrue and make the end result more custardy. Butter a skillet (I used cast iron, but nonstick works just as well) and allow to heat up for 5 minutes. Place french toast in skillet and allow to cook 3-4 minutes a side until golden brown.


Syrup:
1 1/2 cup Fresh Orange Juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/4 sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients and cook over medium-high heat until reduced. 10-15 minutes. Drizzle over hot french toast.