Breakfast Casserole

You can change or add in any ingredients that you like to this recipe. Every time it will come out very tasty.

What you will need

10 eggs

1/4 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

3 large potatoes(grated)

1 1/2 cups cheese

1 package of breakfast sausage or bacon, ham

1 small onion, thinly sliced

Preheat your oven to 375*. Prepare a casserole dish by covering the bottom and sides with butter. Now grate your potatoes. Once you have finished, squeeze out any extra liquid.

I cook the potatoes in a skillet before putting in my casserole dish. This step is not necessary but adds a nice crisp texture to the potatoes. When you have finished browning, place in the bottom of a casserole dish, press down slightly.

The next layer is your sliced onion(for some more flavor here, try adding peppers, tomatoes or asparagus.

Next, brown your sausage or cook your bacon(you can also use deli ham here). Once you have finished browning, place your sausage as your next layer, over the onions.

Now you will add in your cheese, I used Colby Jack cheese, but you can substitute any kind.

Finally scramble your eggs, milk and salt and pepper together. Pour this mixture over your cheese.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked.

Chocolate Mousse

This mousse is relatively simple and tastes delicious. Try changing things a bit by adding in some almond extract, adding in some mint, orange or lemon flavoring or changing the chocolate to dark or white.

What you will need:

8 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

2 tbsp. sugar

2 tbsp butter

1/2 cup water divided

1 tsp vanilla

3 egg yolks

1 1/2 cups whipped cream

Begin my chopping your chocolate, coarsely. Next, place your chocolate, butter and 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan. Melt over a low heat while constantly whisking. Once melted, sit aside.

Now, in a separate pot cook over a low heat your egg yolks, sugar and remaining 1/4 cup water. Continue whisking over a low heat until your mixture reaches 160*. If you do not have a thermometer you will want to watch your mixture thicken and turn a tan like color.

Once you are finished with that, combine your egg yolk mixture with your melted chocolate. Add in your tsp of vanilla(this is also where you will add in any extracts.)

Place your pan of chocolate in a bowl of cold water or an ice bath and mix until cooled. Once cool mix in your whipped cream. I used store bought because I was in a time crunch. But, homemade is easy and delicious!

Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs is a favorite dinner in our house, we have this very often on Sunday's. This recipe is slightly different from your basic bread crumb Italian meatball recipe, but the flavor is the same.(please ignore the messiness of this plate....the kids were hungry and I was rushing!)

What you will need

1 lb of ground beef(you may sub chicken, turkey or do a combo of beef, pork and veal)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tbsp parsley flakes

1 tsp pepper

2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup oatmeal

1 egg

You will begin by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Bring all ingredients together without over mixing.

Once you have finished combining, form into small balls, about an 1 inch in diameter. Bake at 350* for about 15 minutes(if you are making larger meatballs, allow a longer baking time). When finished baking place in your favorite sauce and simmer on your stove top for at least one hour, this will allow your sauce to cook into your meatballs.

French Bread

I made this french bread when I forgot to pick some up at the store for dinner to serve with Spaghetti. This bread is quite simple and tastes delicious. Try adding in other ingredients, such as, rosemary, oregano or a tbsp of olive oil, to change the taste a bit.

What you will need

1 1/4 cups water brought to 110*

2 tsp sugar

1 tsp salt

3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp yeast

Glaze

1 egg beaten

1 tbsp water

1 tsp garlic powder

Begin by proofing your yeast in your 110* water and your sugar. Allow to proof for 15 minutes. I like to use my stand mixer for the next steps, you can also use a hand mixer if you have a bread hook, or you may mix by hand. Next you will add in your flour 1/2 cup at a time and your salt. Once your mixture forms a ball, place in an oiled bowl, turning the dough so all sides are coated.

Now, allow your dough to rest covered in a damp towel for about an hour. This allows your bread to rise, it should double in size.

After the hour has passed, punch down your dough to let the air escape. Turn out onto a floured surface. Roll dough into a rectangular shape.

Once your dough is rolled out into a rectangle, begin to roll the dough, starting closest to your body and rolling upward. Once finished, tuck in the outside edges and cut about 4 shallow cuts into the top of your bread.

For rising, allow to sit for another 15 minutes, sitting under a damp towel. Once finished rising, brush with your egg wash mixture and sprinkle the top with your garlic powder. Bake at 375* for approximately 20 minutes.

Cinnamon Rolls

This cinnamon roll recipe is taken from familyfun.com, I have made a few changes, but used their recipe as a base. You can make these the night before and allow them to sit in the refrigerator overnight, then you can get them in the oven first thing in the morning! The aroma is something your family will love to wake up too!

What you will need

Dough

1/4 cup warm water

1 package dry active yeast

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup warm milk

2 tsp vanilla

1 egg

3 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp salt

4 tbsp softened butter

Filling

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans(these can be omitted)

2 tsp cinnamon

4 tbsp softened butter

Sweet Glaze

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tbsp milk

2 tbsp melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

1/8 tsp maple flavoring(sub with almond extract, lemon or orange flavor)

Start by taking your warm water and dissolving the yeast for about 5 minutes. Next, take your warm milk and dissolve the sugar, when this is finished, add in the beaten egg and vanilla. Now, add your milk mixture to your water and yeast. Once those are blended add in two cups of flour. With a wooden spoon, stir in your flour, mixing 100 times. Once finished mixing in the flour allow to sit, covered with a wet towel, undisturbed for 15 minutes.

Now stir in the softened butter and the flour 1/2 cup at a time. When the dough becomes hard to stir, begin to mix with your hands and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead for another 6 to 7 minutes.

Now place your dough in an oiled bowl, coating all sides of the dough with the oil. Allow the dough to sit in a bowl, covered with a damp towel for one hour. This will cause the dough to rise some more. Once the hour has passed, punch the dough down and allow to sit another 15 minutes.

Next you can prepare your filling. Chop the nuts to a fine consistency, then add in your brown sugar and cinnamon.

Now you may roll out your dough into a rectangular shape. Spread your 4 tbsp of butter on the dough, leaving one inch all around the edges.

Once you have finished, sprinkle your filling over the butter and pat down with your hands. Now roll the dough in a tight roll and allow to sit, covered in a damp towel for another 15 minutes.

After the cinnamon rolls have rested, cut into slices about an inch and a half in size. Place in a buttered baking dish and bake at 350* for 20 minutes.

While baking you can prepare the glaze by putting your powdered sugar, butter, milk, vanilla and maple in a bowl. Stir with a fork.

Allow your cinnamon rolls to cool for a few minutes then pour over your glaze.

Snow Ice Cream!

I heard about this Snow Ice Cream on facebook and thought...we have to do this! There is so much snow out there, we might as well make something yummy out of it! This is a great activity to do with your kids!


What you will need

7 cups of snow
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp of vanilla

First, put on your coats, hats and boots and go outside to get yourself some snow! Next, have your camera ready!

Put your snow into a large bowl, pour the sweetened milk over the top and stir. Finally add in the vanilla. Stir and serve.

Strawberry pie with Crumb topping

I had alot of frozen strawberries in the freezer so I decided to make this pie. This recipe is very simple and unlike most strawberry pies because it is baked.



What you will need

4 cups frozen strawberries
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp cornstarch
2 tbsp butter

Topping
3/4 cup flour
3/4 brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
7 tbsp softened butter


Start by creaming your butter, flour, sugar and cinnamon together. When finished there will still be small pea size pieces of butter. Now mix your strawberries, flour, sugar and cornstarch together. Pour into your pie dish with your favorite pie crust recipe. Now take your crumb topping and pour over the top, place small dabs of butter on top of the crumbles.




Bake at 375* for 1 hour.