Tag: prep-ahead breakfast

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Last Minute Valentine’s Day Breakfast

When I had a little more time and energy and I loved putting a lot of effort into creating a fun holiday event. But nowadays putting together a few simple, yet fun foods at the last minute is about all I can manage. Today I’m sharing a Valentine’s Day breakfast you can pre-prep tonight with foods you probably already have in your pantry.

I’m already a procrastinator but Valentine’s Day is one of those holidays that always seems to sneak up on me and fall through the cracks. this breakfast is my go-to for special days and celebrations. It checks all the boxes for being easy, prep-ahead, delicious, and fun for everyone in the family.

You can start today by prepping Weekend Baked Eggs. You’ll grate the cheeses, cook your breakfast meat, and mix together your egg base and store them in the fridge separately overnight. Tomorrow all you’ll need to do is pour the eggs over the cheese and meat then put it in the oven an hour before you want to eat. If you don’t have breakfast meat in your fridge or freezer, no problem, just leave it out!

Next, you’ll mix up a batch of Whole Wheat Scones. These are best if the dough sits in the refrigerator overnight which makes them perfect for a relaxing Valentine’s Day morning. They only take about 15 minutes to bake so they’ll be ready in a jiffy. Serve them with your egg casserole, or save them for later and have a mini Valentine’s Day tea party.

Now you can sit back and relax or work on a few Valentine crafts until tomorrow. I’ll have a post a little later today with some cute garlands you can make with your kids or some friends.

In the morning while your oven preheats, assemble the egg casserole and set it aside. Rinse some raspberries and strawberries and lay them out on a dishtowel to dry. Get a double boiler going on the stove and start chopping up some melting chocolate.

Your oven is probably ready about now so go ahead and get your eggs baking. They take a good hour so you have plenty of time to finish up the other goodies. Spread out some foil near where you will be dipping your strawberries and begin dipping your berries as soon as the chocolate is nice and smooth.

If your kids are old enough this is a great project to give them while you drink a cup of coffee with your feet up. My 13-year-old could handle this task with ease.

if you’re feeling extra fancy, you can melt down some white chocolate as well and use a fork to drizzle lines back and forth across the milk chocolate. Even if they get a little clumpy, your family will think they are decadent!

Next up, White Chocolate Stuffed Raspberries which sound a lot fancier than what they are. All you’re going to do is literally stuff a white chocolate chip into a raspberry. If it is a big berry, add two! I’m not kidding; it’s that easy. Neither my husband nor my daughter loves white chocolate, but they said they were delightful. Again, get your kids to help if you feel they are up to the task.

Your eggs are probably about ready now. As soon as they are out, turn your oven up to 400 and pull your scones out of the fridge to slice and bake. Pour yourself a tasty drink from this post and get ready to plate up your festive Valentine’s Day Breakfast.

Are you a procrastinator, too, or have you had your Valentine ducks in a row for weeks now? Give this menu a try and let us know your favorite part. Happy Valentine’s Day!

XOXO

Shan and Doe

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Prep-ahead Weekend Baked Eggs

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Weekends seem like the perfect time for a big breakfast, but making scrambled eggs and bacon for a large family can be time-consuming. This baked egg casserole makes a hearty breakfast a cinch! This recipe is a favorite because it can be prepped ahead, then assembled and baked the next morning, making weekend breakfast quick and virtually mess-free.

This casserole recipe is very flexible. The measurements work well with as little as 10 eggs or as many as 18, but the cook times may vary a bit. If you don’t have breakfast meat you can leave it out without any adjustments and the eggs are still delicious.

Canadian bacon and freshly grated cheddar wait to be whisked into an egg casserole.

Use whatever cheese you have on hand or a mixture of multiple kinds. Freshly grated will always be my recommendation, but pre-grated bagged cheese will work as well. Any breakfast meat is delicious in this casserole; try bacon, sausage, or even sliced up, sauteed Canadian bacon.

Layer the cheese and breakfast meat into your casserole dish and set it aside while whisking up the eggs, milk, and seasonings. The flour will clump in pieces and that’s fine.

If you’re using crumbled bacon in the casserole you can wait until after pouring the eggs over the cheese and sprinkle it on the very top so it stays nice and crispy.

Give the egg mixture one last whisk then pour them over the cheese and breakfast meat. Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes at 350. If the eggs are sunken in the middle still keep cooking; the center will puff up like a souffle when it’s cooked through and then deflate once it’s out of the oven.

If you are prepping the eggs ahead, cover the cheese and meat in the casserole dish, and transfer the eggs to a covered bowl or zip-top bag, then refrigerate overnight. The next morning set the pan on the counter while your oven preheats. Give the eggs a little stir to combine again, then pour over the cheese and meat layers. Bake as directed.

These have been a family staple for two decades now. They have been taken to many pot-luck meals, shared with friends after a new baby, enjoyed many Christmas mornings, and even been know to be whipped up on a weekday!

Give them a try this weekend and let us know which breakfast meat is your favorite!

XOXO

Shan and Doe

Baked Eggs

Cheesy breakfast casserole that can be prepped ahead of time then assembled and baked the next day.
Print Recipe
Course Breakfast

Ingredients
  

  • 12 eggs
  • 1 3/4 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 heaping tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 4-6 cups colby-jack cheese, grated
  • 2 cups breakfast meat, cooked and crumbled optional

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350° and llightly butter a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
  • Spread all the grated cheese in the bottom of the prepared casserole dish.
  • If you are adding breakfast meat layer it on top of the cheese. (if using bacon I like to add it very last after the egg mixture so it stays crispy)
  • Set the casserole dish aside for later.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, crack the eggs and add the milk.
  • Using the whisk attachment on the mixer, whisk together until the egg yolks are mostly broken up.
  • Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until mostly incorporated. The flour will be lumpy, that's ok.
  • Give the eggs one last whisk and then pour it over the cheese and breakfast meat in the casserole pan.
  • Place casserole in the center of the oven uncovered and bake for 45-60 minutes. The eggs are done when they are a light golden brown and the center has completely puffed up above the sides. The center will deflate and flatten once it's removed from the stove.
  • Let the casserole stand for just a few minutes before slicing.
Keyword breakfast casserole, breakfast meat, cheese, eggs, prep-ahead