I like this one - it can be assembled the night before leaving the morning free for opening gifts!

Christmas Breakfast Strata


16 slices white bread, crusts removed
Thinly sliced ham
Slices of cheddar cheese (or 1 cup grated)
6 eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 cup minced onion
1/4 cup finely chopped red or green pepper
1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
Dash of red pepper sauce
3 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup crushed cereal (optional)


Butter a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Arrange 8 slices of bread in the bottom of the dish.

Top each slice of bread with 1 or 2 slices of ham, and slices of cheddar cheese. You can also use grated cheddar cheese and sprinkle it evenly over top.

Cover with the remaining 8 slices of bread (so you have 8 sandwiches).

Beat eggs, add salt, pepper, mustard, onions, chopped pepper, Worchestershire sauce, and red pepper sauce. Stir in milk.

Pour the egg mixture over the sandwiches. Cover and refrigerate over night.

In the morning, melt the butter and pour over top. Top with crushed cereal, like corn flakes, rice krispies, etc. if desired. (It makes it look pretty.)

Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour at 350 degrees F. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

I know its the most important meal of the day but most days I cant handle eating in the morning. It makes me queasy for some reason. When I can handle food I like Bacon and Mushroom Omelettes or a Bagel with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese.

I apparently have waffles set in my mind and I've found a super simple recipe for pumpkin waffles. But here's my question....hubby isn't real big on syrup...what could I top them with? Maybe whisk up some heavy cream?

You can use the traditional maple syrup or just butter - but you may want to try 1 cup sour cream mixed with 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (packed) - mix well. The sweetened sour cream goes well with both pumpkin and sweet potato pancakes.

or:

Brown Sugar Sauce
Spoon over cake for dessert or use for pancakes.

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tbsp flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp vanilla
1 tsp butter or hard margarine (optional)

Combine sugar, flour and salt in saucepan. Mix well.

Stir in water and vanilla. Add butter. Heat and stir until mixture boils and thickens. Makes a generous 1/2 cup.

Rum Sauce: Add 1/4 tsp rum flavouring

Chocolate Sauce: Add 1-1/4 tsp cocoa to sugar mixture.



Maple Cream Sauce
(2-1/2 cups)

Boil 1 cup maple syrup down to 3/4 cup. Cool. Fold into 1 cup heavy cream, whipped.



MAPLE PECAN SAUCE

1 c. maple syrup
1/4 c. honey
1/2 c. chopped pecans - toasted
1/4 t. cinnamon

Cook syrup and honey in small saucepan stirring often (medium heat) stirring often until slightly thickened - about 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pecans and cinnamon. Will thicken as it cools.

This sounds super easy...I might give it a try. It'd cut the syrup since hubby isn't a big fan. He might like it with some cream though - if not, I'll eat it.