While we're on the topic of NEW Christmas traditions, does anyone have a fav recipe they'd like to share for Xmas Day brunch - casseroles? Something you can do in the oven or fairly easily? Maybe crock pot?

I'm trying to simplify my life and make it easier

I used vegan Italian sausage and made homemade vegan cream of mushroom soup with coconut milk instead. Oh and I added sliced carrots. It was delicious.


Dinner in a pumpkin

Two Smallish Pumpkins, or 1 medium-large

1 pound Jimmy Dean sausage

2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa

1/2 onion, chopped

2 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 tbsp brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can water chesnuts

1 4 oz can mushrooms

2 tbsp b. sugar + 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

Wash the outside of the pumpkins. Cut the top of the pumpkin off, making sure to cut at an angle. Clean out the inside of the pumpkin and set aside.
Cook quinoa. Set aside.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large skillet, brown the sausage in balsamic vinegar. Add garlic, onion, Italian Seasoning, brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and saute.
Add tomato sauce, cream of mushroom, mushrooms, water chestnuts, and quinoa. Bring to a boil, then let simmer about five minutes.
Scoop mixture into the pumpkin, and replace the pumpkin top. Bake on a cookie sheet for 1-2 hours. Pumpkin is done when it starts to feel soft.

That sounds cool fidget!

I'm mostly interested in finding a breakfast type of meal at this point!

That sounds wonderful...

You are eating the pumpking shell correct along with that delightful filling. How does it all taste together? I love different dishes like that. Amazing.

Yes you eat the inside squishy part of the pumpkin too. The two together are amazing! We made it for our friend dinner and everyone Loved it



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2013 11:48AM by fidget.

We will be serving hot dogs for Christmas brunch in my house, on the count that its just be and my son, and that he is a really picky eater.

We do New Mexico food in my family. Pozole with green chile in it, enchiladas (rolled like they do in Mexico rather than the usual flat kind in order to facilitate serving large groups) and a pot of menudo for the folks that can handle tripe. It's a blended family and some of them can't fathom New Mexico food without turning it Mexican, so there's usually rice too. And beans, but it's not traditional to smash them in NM.

Chunks of leftover sourdough or French bread
Eggs, beaten with a little cream or half & half
Salt & Pepper
Cut up ham or crumbled bacon or sausage (or any combination of those)
Green Onions
Lots of cheese (cheddar, jack, swiss)
Put it all in a 9 x 13 pan and bake till center is cooked through.

It's like a savory bread pudding.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/24/2013 12:13PM by wine country girl.

Here is what my kids always request for Christmas brunch:

Hash Brown Bake (which my kids call breakfast casserole)
http://www.recipe4living.com/recipes/hash_brown_bake.htm

Oven Scrambled Eggs
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Oven-Scrambled-Eggs/Detail.aspx

These can go in the oven at the same time, since they bake at the same temperature.

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Strata

1 lb bacon
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
6 slices bread


Directions:

1 Grease a 9x13 glass baking dish and set aside.

2 Fry the bacon, drain on paper toweling, cut into 1 inch pieces.

3 Cube the bread into 3/4 inch pieces and set aside.

4 In a large bowl, beat the eggs.

5 Add the milk, mustard powder, salt, and blend well.

6 Stir in the bacon, cheese, and bread cubes.

7 Stir well to combine.

8 Pour the mixture into the baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

9 Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for one hour.

What a great dish!
It smells so good baking that I have to run off everybody from the kitchen wanting to know if it's done yet. Thank you twisted software designers who did the latest car (Theft) video for buying me time. Importantly, the nutrition in this is off the charts. Those of us in my family who cannot tolerate wheat got to have a nice meal. Always read labels. Thanks.

Corn bread instead of regular bread is just as good. I have found Panko bread crumbs and corn bread without flour pretty easily. One in 130 people get sick from wheat, now. Most don't know it. If you do not know how to get on board that ship with snipers at you, you're dead anyway. Whatever happened to Area 51? Great game.