Breakfast Casseroles

From November through March AppleJack and I participate in Room In the Inn.  The Room in the Inn program in Nashville started in 1986 when people from four different churches began to provide shelter and food for the homeless.  The four participating churches grew to more than 180 churches and more than 6,000 volunteers! 

Each Friday evening/Saturday morning AppleJack picks up fourteen men at the Campus for Human Development and drives them to and from church.  A delicious meal is waiting for them, a hot shower, and a warm safe bed.  In the morning they are served breakfast and given a sack lunch before they are returned to the Campus.  As my schedule allows--I sometimes prepare breakfast. 


Speedy Breakfast Casserole

4 to 6 hash brown patties, slightly thawed
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of cooked crumbled sausage or cooked diced ham
1 tablespoon of finely diced yellow onion
2 slices of bacon, cooked and chopped
1 1/2 cups of milk
4 large eggs
1/4 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning
1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly cracked black pepper

Preheat over to 350 degrees F.  Remove the hash brown patties from the freezer to allow them to begin to thaw, while you prep the remaining ingredients.

Spray a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Set aside.  If using raw sausage and bacon, cook both until browned.  chop up the bacon and set aide.  Layer the baking dish starting with the hash brown patties.  On top of that, add the shredded cheese, then the sausage onion and bacon.  Beat together the milk, eggs, Cajun seasoning salt and pepper and slowly pour over the entire dish.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes to one hour, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Allow to set about 5 minutes before slicing.  Double for a 9 x 13 inch casserole. 

As there are fourteen men plus the Room in the Inn volunteers, I usually make two double the recipe casseroles.  This is a hearty stick to your ribs kind of dish.  A very speedy recipe and while it is baking, I stitch, hook, quilt or read--great early morning quiet time.   

While looking for a good, quick, easy, hearty, delicious breakfast recipe, I easily found dozens.  I'm always on the lookout for recipes so. . . if you have a good breakfast recipe for Christmas morning now would be a great time to share.