Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

For years, I have looked for a breakfast that I could put in the crock pot the night before. It had to be something the kids would eat but not too loaded with sugar. And, I didn't want bread pudding. After many failed attempts, I found this one. It's simple and tasty.

Breakfast Casserole

12 eggs, beaten
14 slices bread
2 1/4 cups milk
2 1/2 cups Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 pound sausage, cooked and drained
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons prepared yellow mustard

1. Grease the sides of the crock pot with butter.
2. Spread mustard on one side of the bread and cut bread into fourths.
3. Make layers in the crock pot of bread, followed by sausage, followed by cheese, ending with a cheese layer.
4. Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper together. Pour over crock pot mixture.
5. Cover and cook on LOW heat setting for 8 to 12 hours.

French Toast Casserole, aka Hot Dog Bun Breakfast

Hot dog buns were on sale for 68 cents for a pack of 8. At that price, I had to pick up a bag, even if we don't eat buns with our hot dogs. Since we are big breakfast eaters around here, I decided to make it into a breakfast.

6 hot dog buns, cubed
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon alspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/3 cup Splenda or sugar
1/2 cup raisins
2-3 Tablespoons butter or margarine
Syrup or powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x9 dish with Pam.
2. Beat together eggs, milk, sugar and spices. 
3. Add the buns (cubed) and raisins until the bread is covered.
4. Pour egg/bread mixture into the dish.
5. Bake 40 minutes.
6. Add butter and about 3 tablespoons of syrup to the casserole. Bake 5-10 more minutes.
7. Serve with syrup or powdered sugar.

Katie added, "If you don't have a sugar allergy in your family, you could top it with a dusting of confectioner's sugar to make it fancy." I think she's watched too much Food Network.

Blogger Borrowing

Borrowing a recipe from a friend tonight. Yummy breakfast casserole, via Anne. Check it out and try it!

Pink Pancakes for Valentine's Day

I love making Valentine's Day special for my girls. Jay and I aren't the romantic-type but we do appreciate good food and the time it takes to make a really good meal. So, instead of heading out to a restaurant and throwing down $30, I had planned some nice meals today, starting with Pink Pancakes.

One of the purchases that stopped this year, in my attempt to cut down our grocery bill, was Bisquik. That stuff is expensive, especially when you have as many big pancake eaters as we do! We have three pancake recipes we use, but the one below is the easiest and probably my favorite. The strawberries are a special-occasion-only addition.

Pink Pancakes

2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar (brown or white)
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tub frozen strawberries, thawed

1. Beat eggs in medium bowl until fluffy.
2. Add in remaining ingredients, except strawberries. Mix until smooth.
3. Pour in the juice from the strawberries. Don't worry if one or two strawberries falls in. Mix until just blended.
4. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat.
5. Pour about 1/2 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until it is fluffy, bubbles appear in the batter, and the edges just start to turn golden. Then flip and cook until edges are just turning golden brown.
6. Serve with remaining strawberries and optional syrup and whipped cream.

Apple Pie Oatmeal Bars

One word: delicious! Jay found this recipe on one of his garden forums and adapted it to use his own jam.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
3/4 cup butter
2 cups Jay's Apple Pie Jam

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix together flour, baking powder, brown sugar, and quick cooking oatmeal in a medium bowl. Cut in 3/4 cup butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Pat two-thirds into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
4. Spoon apple pie jam evenly on top.
5. Sprinkle the top with the remaining crumb mixture.
6. Bake for 45 minutes, or until crispy brown on top. Cool before cutting into bars.

Breakfast with some love

I love this recipe. It's easy, it gets oohs and aahs from the girls, and it gives them protein. This recipe can be down-sized, or up-sized, for any family. For us, it means 6 servings.

6 pieces of sandwich bread
6 eggs
Aluminum foil
Cooking spray
Shredded cheese, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking sheet with foil.
3. Using a cookie cutter, cut a shape out of each slice of bread. We use hearts, but then again, we are a house full of little girls.
4. Spray the aluminum foil with cooking spray.
5. Place the bread on the foil and spray lightly with cooking spray.
6. Crack an egg into each slice of bread.
7. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes, or until egg is set.
8. If desired, sprinkle cheese on hot egg-in-toast and let melt.