Baked French Toast Casserole

Ingredients:

* 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
* 8 large eggs
* 2 cups half-and-half
* 1 cup milk
* 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* Dash salt
* Praline Topping, recipe follows
* Maple syrup

Directions:

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.
Praline Topping:

* 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
* 1 cup packed light brown sugar
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

This is so delicious and worth the time of baking it yourself!


Sour Cream-Blueberry Coffee Cake
from: Southern Living

½ cup butter, softened
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 (8 oz.) container sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. grated lemon rind

1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt

1 pt. fresh or frozen blueberries (raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
½ cup chopped pecans
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup powdered sugar
4 tsp. milk

1. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add ½ cup granulated sugar, beating 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, sour cream, vanilla and grated lemon rind, beating until smooth.

2. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Pour batter into a lightly greased 9-inch spring form pan.

3. Combine berries, pecans, sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over batter.

4. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 to 15 minutes; remove from pan and cool on wire rack 10 minutes.

5. Whisk together powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Drizzle over cake.


NOTES: (Step 2) I don’t have a spring form pan – round cake pans work just fine.

(Step 3) I scoop out a handful of the cinnamon and sprinkle a layer of that first. Then I sprinkle the berries and pecans. It makes the cake look more even.

(Step 5) If I want extra lemon flavoring, I replace some (or all) of the milk with lemon juice.

Egg-in-a-basket

Ingredients:

Wheat Bread
Eggs(cage free)
Salt
Pepper

Directions:

With a biscuit cutter or rim of a glass cut out a whole in the center of the bread. Heat a skillet to medium, put a tablespoon of butter in a pan and let it melt. Add the bread and drop the egg in the center of the whole. Sprinkle your slat and pepper on. Cook for at least 30 seconds before flipping. Let it cook until it browns, but still has a soft yolk. (mediumish)

Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients:

Whole wheat tortilla shells
6 cage free eggs
4 sausage patties from Morning star, cut in chunks
3/4 package of potatoes O'Brien
1/2 cup of reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons of olive oil

Topping:
Salsa


Directions:

Heat oil in skillet. Add potatoes and cook until browned. Meanwhile brown "sausage" in another pan, or pop in the microwave. Add your eggs to the potatoes once they are browned; cook until eggs are scrambled. Add sausage and cheese and cook until cheese melts. Place in warm tortillas and serve with salsa on top.

Breakfast Pizza

Need a quick and easy meal that the whole family will love? Try this breakfast pizza!



INGREDIENTS

* 1/2 (3 patties) package of Morning Star sausage
* 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
* 1 cup frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
* 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
* 5 eggs
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese


DIRECTIONS:

1. Place sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Crumble and set aside. (Or pop in microwave for 90 seconds) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Separate crescent roll dough into 8 triangles. Place in an ungreased 12 inch pizza pan with points toward the center. Press together to form a crust. Bottom of crust should be sealed and outside edge should be slightly raised. Spoon sausage over crust. Sprinkle with hash browns and top with cheddar cheese.
3. Beat together eggs, milk, salt and pepper; pour over crust. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
4. Bake in preheated oven until eggs are set, about 25 to 30 minutes.


Add your favorite veggies to this meal or substitute with them instead of the sausage. We sometimes add mushrooms, green peppers, onions or spinach. Whatever we have on hand.

Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

You won't even be able to tell that this isn't real sausage. This is one of the best products that Morning Star makes. Plus, it is MUCH lower in fat! :)



INGREDIENTS:

1 package of your Pillsbury biscuits
4 sausage patties, crumbled (Morning Star)
1-2 packages or Country gravy mix (Check ingredients to make sure it doesn't contain any meat products)


DIRECTIONS:

Prepare biscuits as directed on container. Microwave sausage patties for 1-2 minutes. Remove from microwave and set aside to cool. Meanwhile make gravy according to package. Crumble up sausage and mix into gravy. Break biscuits apart and spoon generous helping over biscuits. Enjoy!

Good Old-fashioned Pancakes

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
* 3 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon white sugar
* 1 1/4 cups milk
* 1 egg
* 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Optional: Blueberries, yum!


DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and pour in the milk, egg and melted butter; mix until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

Egg and Cheese Puffs

INGREDIENTS:

* 1/2 package of morning star sausage or morning star bacon
* 10 eggs, beaten
* 1 (16 ounce) container cottage cheese
* 1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
* 1 (7 ounce) can diced green chile peppers, drained
*
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup butter, melted
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt


DIRECTIONS:

1. Place bacon or sausage in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine eggs, cottage cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, chile peppers and bacon. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
4. Remove cheese mixture from refrigerator; stir in flour, butter, baking powder and salt. Spoon batter into 24 lightly greased muffin cups.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until puffs are slightly golden on top.