Christmas Brunch ideas needed

Mrs. J

For someone who doesn't spend much time in the kitchen!  Was thinking maybe some sort of egg casserole (don't have the recipe yet), banana bread and fruit, but I need to serve more than that! Any suggestions or recipes would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

shesthetoast

If there's no meat in your egg casserole, bacon would be a good side. Or you could do hash browns or a potato dish (I've had hasbrown casserole similar to this: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1950,144185-231196,00.html - it's very easy to make - you could make it ahead, put it in the fridge, then heat for breakfast.)

Sweet rolls, cinnamon rolls, or coffeecake would probably be good too. I don't think I'd go overboard and do too much else - people will be eating all day long. 

Magdala

Evergreen Fritatta http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Evergreen-Frittata-351109 Use the fresh dill, it makes a big difference.

Maple Bacon http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Maple-and-Black-Pepper-Bacon-350874

Sliced fresh pineapple and kiwi

Banana Bread

Cinnamon Cider Pour 1/2 gallon of Apple Cider into a Crockpot, Add 1 tsp orange extract and three sticks of cinnamon.  Heat on Low for 1/2 hour.  (Warm Cinnamon is such a Christmasy smell.

Biscuits (from the refrigerator case.  If you hide the can, no one will know.

Two kinds of chunky jams (Spoon the jams into fancy dishes)

Cheese tray with three kinds of cheese (maybe Cheddar, Goat Cheese and Brie)

6fsn

Since you are firing up the oven anyway, just throw in some potatoes to roast.  I would probably do a bread with the banana bread- wheat toast or bagels.  If you want add some bacon or sausage.  If you've got yogurt eaters, add some greek yogurt with granola.  People can add some of your fruit to it also.

apparently

I like Cooking Light's Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche. It's delicious, makes a ton, can be prepped the night before, and looks very pretty when it is finished. It's easy to slice up (stays together). Plus it's full of vegetables and relatively healthy -- not a lot of other things on the Christmas sideboard you can say that for!

Mrs. J

Thanks for the ideas! 

TarHeels&Rebels

I've made all three of these to rave reviews.  People ask me to make them all the time.

Paula Deen's quiche

DH's grandmother's hashbrown casserole

A 2lb bag of frozen hashbrowns

2c (16 oz) sour cream

1 can cream of chicken soup

8 oz shredded cheddar

1 small onion, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

2 tbsp of butter

2 cups of crushed saltines

Mix together thawed hash browns, salt, pepper, sour cream, soup, cheese and onion.  Pour into a greased 13x9.  Melt butter and mix with crackers; pour on top of casserole.  Bake covered at 350 for one hour.  Uncover for the final 15 mins. 

*It does work with lightened ingredients like Healthy Request soup, lower fat milk, reduced fat sour cream. *IMO, there's no such thing as a "small" onion anymore, so I think the recipe has plenty of onion with just half of a modern onion. *You can make it all a couple days in advance, minus the cracker topping, and leave it in the fridge.

Make-ahead sausage-egg casserole

1lb mild sausage

6 slices of toasted bread

6 eggs

2c milk

1/2 tsp dry mustard

salt and pepper to taste

1c shredded cheddar

Brown sausage; drain.  Cut each slice of toast into 4 pieces.  Beat together eggs, milk, seasonings.  In a dish (I think 8x8, but I'm not for certain), layer half the bread, half the sausage and half the cheese. Pour half the custard over the layer.  Repeat.  Bake at 325 for 45-60 mins (until puffed like a souffle).  Best made 24 hours in advance and chilled in the fridge until ready to bake.  Serves only 4, so you'll want to double or triple it.

6fsn

Please don't get me wrong, I love the hashbrown casserole recipe.  However, it can be heavy with everything else people eat around now.