Breakfast can often be the last straw when busy cooks have put together Thanksgiving appetizers, a main meal and desserts to please every palate. Christmas morning is another critical day when the family chef is too worn out to create one more perfect meal.
Try these two delicious and simple dishes to wow your family. If extended family members or neighbors are joining in, have them bring fresh fruit, juices or croissants to make this a hearty breakfast everyone will enjoy.
Asparagus Cheese Strata
Ingredients:
- 1-1/2 pounds fresh asparagus (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 3 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1 lb loaf of bread, sliced and crusts removed
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, Monterey jack Parmesan), divided
- 2 cups cubed cooked ham
- 6 eggs
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 Vidalia onion, sauteed and chopped finely
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/4 tsp dry mustard
Directions:
- Steam asparagus till just tender, but still firm. Set aside.
- Lightly brush butter over one side of bread slices. Place half of bread, buttered side up, in a greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese.
- Layer with asparagus and ham. Cover with remaining bread, buttered side up.
- In a bowl, lightly beat eggs; add milk, onions, salt, pepper and mustard; pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 50 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese. Return to oven for 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Serves: 10-12.
Family Fun Recipes: Baked Eggs in Ham Cups
A family favorite, adults and children alike love this easy dish brimming with flavor.
Ingredients:
- 3/4 lb of mushrooms, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 Tbsp sour cream
- 12 thin slices of Virginia Ham
- 12 eggs
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400°. Cook mushrooms and onion in butter with salt & pepper until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in sour cream. Set aside.
- Roll ham up and place in muffin tin, most of it will stick out. Add mushroom mixture into each of the 12 cups. Crack one egg into each cup. Bake in oven for 20 minutes. Add salt & pepper to each egg and remove from muffin tin to plates. Serves 12.
Cooking for a Crowd
These two filling egg dishes offer guests a delicious meal when paired with fresh fruit, juice and croissants with apple butter. Holiday breakfasts, often left to one person in the family to prepare, don't have to add more stress to the cook's day.
Prepare the asparagus strata and set the table the night before. The only thing left to do in the morning is put together the simple egg cups and slice the fresh fruit. Then Kiss the cook, please!
For more ideas on how to please a crowd, read the following articles from this author:
Father's Day Breakfast Recipes
Make a Brandy Cake or Chocolate Pastry
Recipes for a Christmas Brunch
Vicki F. Chavis - Growing up in Asia, Europe and North America left Vicki with a love of cuisine, history, language, fashion and travel. Today she writes on ...
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