<p>Breakfast at our house is normally every man for himself but on holidays we eat together. My kids like breakfast food, but Christmas morning is a little hectic and we host Christmas dinner so I’m always in a rush.</p>
<p>One year we did the make ahead hashbrown/sausage casserole and that didn’t go over very well. I’ve also done the overnight french toast which was a bit of a dud - may have been the recipe.</p>
<p>They like monkey bread, but I may have done that a little too often.</p>
<p>I’m looking for suggestions or better recipes. Thanks.</p>
<p>We bake scrambled eggs in muffin tins (they come out perfectly), then we bake bacon in a pan in the oven as well, and serve them as homemade egg mcmuffins, either with or without cheese. Since I’m a potato woman, I make home fries the night before and only need to heat up in the morning. So on Christmas morning, all I do is basically put three pans and one foil-wrapped packet of potatoes into the oven while presents are opened. I beat the eggs with cream, salt/pepper and a few herbs and then pour into greased muffin pans, put pre-sliced bacon in a disposable pan in the same oven, and heat the home fries in the oven as well as put the biscuits (we are lazy and use store bought) in the oven.</p>
<p>We make quiche the day or two before. Warms up easily, everyone likes it and I don’t have to fuss. One with ham, onions and mushrooms and one with spinach and onions.</p>
<p>Two quick and easy recipes - both can go in the oven. If you’re short on time, buy bagels or coffee cake the day before at a good bakery and then do the eggs yourself - serve some crumbled bacon and shredded cheese or veggies on the side for people to add to their eggs. These eggs are SO much better than stove scrambled - I have often 1/2’d the recipe.</p>
<p>Egg Strata–basically a savory bread pudding with a filling of your choice. Made with stale bread, eggs w/cream and fillings. (We like spinach with gruyere, or green chile turkey sausage with cheddar) </p>
<p>Assemble it the night before, cover w/ plastic wrap and weight the bread down it so absorbs all the egg mixture. Bake for 30 minutes the next morning.</p>
<p>Reminds me of a quiche, only sturdier and less rich. I make this all the time for school breakfast buffets.</p>
<p>Or if your family has a sweet tooth, I love these! So easy and takes only 15-20 minutes to make.</p>
<p>I buy the frozen cinnamon rolls, and bake a big panful. A caloric excess that is a once a year treat. Let rise in the fridge overnight, bake in the AM. Serve with sausages/vegie sausages and fruit, sometimes eggs. Everyone gets higher quality hot chocolate in their stockings, though these days good coffee is more valued.</p>
<p>I made a french toast casserole that I found online and it was way too wet ! So I adapted the recipe to be more of an actual french toast consistancy…not an undercooked eggy-mess ( which I am guessing where you went wrong since that’s what I got when I followed the recipe…unfortunately , I have the recipe in my head as I do with most things I cook…I did manage to walk my daughter thru it when she has to bring something to a recent brunch. It involved eggs, fat free half and half , cinnamon , cubed bread dried in the oven before mixing with wet ingredients…baked about 1/2 hr before adding a mixture of melted butter/ brown sugar cooked stovetop and poured on top</p>
<p>Breakfast is the only family meal my husband makes all year, though he also brines and carves the holiday turkeys. His breakfasts are a huge undertaking. He makes whatever anyone asks for - omelets, waffles, eggs over easy or sunny side up, bacon, sausage, pancakes. It’s kind of awesome to watch, and it’s usually noon before he’s done.</p>
<p>We always had donuts split in half, buttered and toasted (delicious), but now we leave that to the kids and just have toast. We eat our Christmas meal at noon though so there’s not long to wait!</p>
<p>Quiche from a favorite family market, ready to bake
Fresh fruit
Christmas Stollen from Trader Joe’s
Peet’s coffee
So easy to throw together, the kids can do it.</p>
<p>I’ve made the french toast with a recipe much the same as Pioneer Woman. I buy a loaf of baquette (sp?). It has the slight crunch of day old bread. Slice it on the thick side and cut easily into 1 inch cubes. Works nicely.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the suggestions. I’m not sure when my holiday fretting turned from tree-trimming, card-writing, present-wrapping to “What am I gonna serve for the dang meals?” I think I’ve locked down the dinners for the night I’ll have some family in town, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day (at least the entrees), but I was asking the kids the other day what they’d like for Christmas morning. They want that awful from-the-freezer-section monkey bread. I’m liking that Pioneer Woman recipe (plus it’s always fun to read their directions).</p>
<p>We always have gingerbread and slice peaches and whipped cream for Christmas morning. I put the gingerbread together as everyone is getting up, put in the oven, SET THE TIMER and we open presents. By the time we are ready for breakfast it is lovely and warm.</p>
<p>S1 will not be home for Christmas Day this year (first time!!). Just yesterday I baked a gingerbread in a foil cake pan, and mailed it along with a can of peaches and his stocking, so he will have little bit of home for Christmas morning.</p>