Holiday Brunch Recipes

French Bread Casserole

Ingredients:

6 eggs
2 cups half-and-half
6 Tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. maple flavoring
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 loaf French bread
1/4 cup coconut, toasted
maple syrup to taste

Preparation:

Beat eggs thoroughly, then whip in the half-and-half and all other seasonings. Slice the bread loaf in one-inch slices along the diagonal. Tear the bread into small pieces and add to the liquid. Push the bread into the mixture with a spoon to ensure that it absorbs as much of the moisture as possible.

Pour into a well-buttered 9 x 13-inch casserole dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, uncover and sprinkle with coconut and bake in a 375-degree oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until crispy on top. Drizzle with maple syrup.

Ingredients:

country ham slices (1/2 cup, diced)
2 cups flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/8 cup shredded cheese
1 Tbs. butter, melted
1 cup milk, chilled

Preparation:

Fry ham slices for three minutes on each side. Blot with paper towels to remove grease, then dice. Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add diced ham and cheese to the mixture and continue mixing. Add butter and pour milk in gradually.

Flour rolling pin and board, then roll out dough. Cut out small biscuits and place on a baking sheet. Bake in a 425-degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Serve with flavored butter. Soften two sticks of butter and whip with a 1/4 cup of maple syrup for a wonderful flavored butter.

Ingredients:

30 whole cloves
2 oranges
6 cinnamon sticks
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
3 Tbs. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. whole allspice
2 qts. apple cider

Preparation:

Press 15 cloves into the skin of each orange. Combine all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain liquid and serve with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.

Gift Idea

A great idea for wassail is to give it as a gift pack. Place the spices and cider in decorative containers and bring the wonderful taste and aroma to a friend's house this holiday season.

Fast Fact

The concept of brunch is an English idea that arrived in the United States in the 1930s.