French Toast Casserole

This is a quick and easy (and really really good) breakfast casserole (there is just something about the word casserole that I do not like... not sure what, but I just do not like it).

Ingredients

Casserole
1 loaf of french bread, cut into slices
3 cups of mixed berries, fresh or frozen
1 box of cream cheese
12 eggs, beat
1 1/2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of vanilla extract
Powder Sugar, for decoration

Syrup
1 bag of frozen berries
the juice of one lemon
the zest of one lemon
1/2 cup of sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray.
Stager slices of french bread into the casserole dish at an angle.
Scatter mixed berries on top of the bread, and in between the layers of bread.
Place dollops of cream cheese in between the layers of bread, as well.
In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Pour liquid mixture evenly over bread.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the middle of the casserole isn't real jiggly.

*This picture was taken before it went into the oven.
In a medium saucepan, add mixed berries, lemon, and sugar.
Bring to a boil, stirring often.
Lower heat to low (1-2).
Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes or so, until the mixture has formed a syrup.

Serve a piece of french toast with a little syrup on top, dusted with powdered sugar.

***will try to remember to post a picture as soon as I take one of the finished plate.