Christmas falls on Sunday this year, which in any week is a great day for a fancy breakfast; the holiday just makes it even more special.
Whether you are planning to go to church or not, it is nice to plan ahead and make a casserole that can be baked before or after services, or while presents are being opened.
The advantage of a casserole is that you can put it together the day before, then refrigerate it until Christmas morning. Pop it in the oven and you have a tasty, hearty meal to start the day with a minimum amount of fuss.
Casseroles, as always, are a flexible dish that can be adapted to the needs and tastes of the family. They usually include some kind of bread, eggs and cheeses, with additions such as vegetables, fruits or nuts.
Other ideas for Christmas that can be made ahead include muffins, danishes, overnight oats, cinnamon rolls and scones.
Breakfast casseroles can be simple or complex. These two from allrecipes.com offer a choice of sweet or savory to start the holiday.
1 pound ground pork sausage
1 teaspoon mustard powder
½ teaspoon salt
4 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
6 slices white bread, toasted and cut into cubes
8 ounces mild Cheddar cheese
1. Crumble sausage into a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat until evenly brown; drain.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together mustard powder, salt, eggs and milk. Add the sausage, bread cubes, and cheese, and stir to coat evenly. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 8 hours, or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
4. Cover and bake 45 to 60 minutes. Uncover, and reduce temperature to 325 degrees. Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until set.
1 (16-ounce) loaf cinnamon swirl bread, cut into cubes
6 eggs, beaten
3 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
Step 1. Place bread cubes in greased 3-quart shallow baking dish. Mix eggs, milk and vanilla. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight. Uncover.
Step 2. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden. Sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with maple syrup, if desired.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
