Easy French Toast Bake for New Years Morning

 Serve with chilled orange juice or cranberry juice and chilled champagne for make your own mimosa and pitchers of your favorite bloody Mary mix with choice of toppings to make your own Bloody Mary.  Here is a recipe I'll be preparing for our family to enjoy on New Year's Day. The best part is you make the casserole the day before and refrigerate until ready to bake. You just pop into the oven and let the aroma fill the house until it's  done baking and ready to serve.  Serve with a basket of your favorite muffins and a large bowl of fresh tossed cut fruit. You have a beautiful buffet and it leaves you time to stay in your pj's and ease into 2020.

Baked Apple Cranberry French Toast Casserole

Makes 12 servings
Ingredients: 
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
3 teaspoons cinnamon
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 loaf Italian or french bread cut into 1 inch slices
6 large eggs 
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
* Gluten free bread may be substituted for the Italian or french bread if your diet requires gluten free.

To make combine the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a 13 x 9 baking dish you have sprayed with your favorite cooking spray. Add apples and cranberries and toss to coat well with the brown sugar and cinnamon.  Spread mixture evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.  Arrange the sliced bread on top.  Mix eggs , milk, vanilla and remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon until well blended.  Pour over bread to soak bread completely.  Cover and refrigerate 4 - 24 hours.  Bake covered with aluminum foil in preheated 375 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Uncover and continue to bake another 5 minutes.  Remove and let sit for 5 minutes.  Serve warm.  Serve with warm maple syrup and a dish of whipped butter .  

                                                      

Snowed In? Weekend Breakfast Casserole You Make the Night Before

Apple French Toast Bread Pudding

I love watching Wayne Johnson on NBC5 weekends for entertaining and food ideas.  This recipe caught my eye and I am using it this weekend for family and friends.  We have just had chilling below zero temperatures this week with wind chills of -45 degrees and up to 18 inches of snow in some parts. That's when I head to the kitchen and get creative.  Nothing warms up a home like yummy smells from the kitchen.  This is easy and perfect when you are snowed in (or just want something different for brunch).  

Ingredients:  1 loaf french bread torn into medium sized pieces, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 large apples, cored and chopped, the juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 7 large eggs, 2 1/2 cups whole milk (I am using 1%), 1/3 cup sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/2 cup pecan pieces,and syrup, use maple syrup for best flavor.

To Make:  Butter a 2 quart glass baking dish.  Cover the bottom with the bread pieces.  Mix apples with lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small bowl.  Pour mixture over the bread.  Place the eggs in a medium bowl and whisk in milk, sugar and vanilla.  Pour the mixture over the apples and bread.  Press down all of the bread to make sure they are all moistened.  Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.  In the morning, place baking dish on the middle rack of a cold oven.  Set the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 35 minutes.  Carefully remove the aluminum foil and bake for an additional 40-45 minutes until puffed up and golden brown.  Insert a toothpick or knife into the center.  If it comes out clean the bread pudding is ready.

Heat the syrup in a microwave and serve warm.  Scoop the bread pudding onto serving plates.  Allow your guests to sprinkle pecans on their serving if desired and pour warm syrup on top.  

Enjoy and Have a Safe, Warm and Happy Weekend

Happiest Birthday Wishes to my dear brother John! xoxo

Shout out to stilettos and diaper bags on your fourth anniversary of awesome blogs .  Take the time to check it out this weekend.   ( I am so proud of you!)