Adventures in Cooking with Family: Mom’s Breakfast Casserole
My mom has been making this breakfast casserole for as long as I can remember. For baby showers, brunch, or simply for a nice Saturday breakfast, this recipe is a simple way to feed a lot of people. I remember Mom often making it the day before she needed to take it somewhere, so the morning of whatever event we were attending or hosting, all she had to do was tuck it in the oven.
The key to the flavor, in my opinion, is the sausage. My favorite version is with Jimmy Dean maple-flavored breakfast sausage, but I’ve had a difficult time finding it in the grocery store here. When I made the casserole over the holidays for my sister-in-law and her parents, I added a tablespoon of maple syrup to the sausage as I cooked it. Not quite the same, but still good.
Once the sausage is cooked, it’s really just a matter of assembly. Shred the bread, beat the eggs, layer everything into a casserole, and you’re all set. With fresh fruit and a cup of coffee, this breakfast is hard to beat, especially if you have company coming. My one caution is not to be tempted to overdo it on the cheese: the texture is light and fluffy, so you don’t want to weigh it down. Other than that, I find this to be a pretty no-fail recipe. Plus, it makes me think about my mom. Isn’t she cute?
Mom’s Breakfast Casserole
1 lb. maple-flavored breakfast sausage
9 eggs
2 cups milk
1 1/2 tsp. ground mustard
1 small loaf French bread
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook and drain the sausage. Grease a 3-quart rectangular casserole dish and line the bottom with shredded French bread (I just tear it into small pieces with my hands). Beat the eggs and milk together; add the ground mustard. Season with salt and pepper (I use about 1/2 tsp. of each). Spread the sausage on top of the bread; pour the eggs evenly over. Top with the cheese, and bake for about an hour.
February 5th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
This sounds a lot like something my mom used to make …. sounds good!
February 5th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
yes, she is cute. She was a real trooper at my class the other night. I had her in charge of the fried chicken station and she was superb!!! Imagine, Frances being superb in the kitchen!!! Wish you could be at my classes - I think of you often and wish you were next door. We’re fine here - going like lightening in fifty directions but we’re fine. Take care and keep up the good work. Love to David and cats.
love ykou
aunt prissy