Recipe Tuesday ~ Breakfast Casserole

I mentioned yesterday that I was in charge of Mother's Day Brunch at the office.  That confused a few people, so here's the deal.  My job as Social Chairman (er....marketing coordinator) at PHRC requires me to come up with unique and clever ways to keep patients calling for appointments.  Nothing motivates people to come into the office than a good, old fashioned buffet table!  So this year, instead of giving roses to the mothers, I thought it would be a good idea to feed everybody who IS a mother, HAS a mother, or HAD a mother.  That pretty much covers it all.  I did the planning and the home cooking and my co-workers filled in the gaps.  I work with a lot of 20-something single guys, so every time I bring homecooked, man-pleasin' food into the office, I get big props.  Yesterday was no different! 

I admit, that I did not spare the fat grams, the calories, nor the cholestrol yesterday unless you balance the egg casserole with the fresh fruit salad.  Yeah, that works.  Here is my breakfast casserole recipe that brought into the office yesterday.  I also served leftovers for dinner last night with a big salad and it was really delicious!

Note:  If you would like to reduce the fat and calories here, you could do any or all of the following:

• Use reduced fat cheddar cheese
• Instead of a dozen eggs, use 6 eggs and 10 egg whites
• Substitute water for the half and half
• Use turkey breakfast sausage instead of pork sausage and "rinse" it well
• Omit the potatoes (but that would be a crime, I have to admit!)

Barb's Breakfast Casserole

• Frozen Hash browns, thawed
• 1 lb. bulk breakfast sausage
• 1/2 medium onion, diced small
• 1 small red bell pepper, diced small
• 1 dozen eggs
• 1/4 C half and half
• salt and pepper
• fresh parsley
• tobasco sauce

Layer hash browns at the bottom of a 9X13" baking pan and set aside.

Saute onions, peppers and breakfast sausage in a non-stick skillet until the sausage is cooked and the onions are transparent.  You can omit the onions and peppers if you don't like them. You can also use bacon if you like, it's all good!  Drain the fat off of the sausage and layer the sausage, onions and peppers over the hash browns.

Crack a dozen eggs into a large bowl.  Add half and half, salt and pepper, parsley, and a few dashes of tabasco sauce.  Mix well and pour evenly over the sausage and hash browns.  Cover with shredded cheddar cheese (Pepper jack is REALLY good too, if you like it spicy, but I was cooking for a crowd).  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

If you want to prepare this ahead of time and bake the next day (that's what I did!), it works really great.  Do I need to mention that homemade cheddar biscuits are REALLY good with this?  No, I didn't think so.

++++++++++++++++++++++

So today is my birthday.  I got a big birthday present yesterday (will blog about that later this week) and we're celebrating tomorrow night, so today I have a day off with very little to do.  That is so great!  Actually, I have housework that is really calling my name, but I'm going to completely ignore those calls.

Shannon wrote me a "birthday song" today, and it's just darling.  I might have to scrap it.  Here it is:

Mom it's your birthday
Thanks for all the love and care you give
I just really need it to live
I love you and you're the one I adore.
You help me up when I fall,
You pick me up when I'm down,
You turn my my frown upside down,
And I love you forever more.
Happy Birthday Mom!

Isn't that awesome?  Well I sure love it. 

I'd like to keep ignoring the fact that I'm getting up there, but I guess it's true.  Most days I certainly don't feel old. Somedays my knees are killing me, or my shoulder, or my wrist, (or all of the above!) but that's more the life of a jock and less having to do with my chronological age. 

I can't deny, however, that when my grandma was my age, she was a grandmother already.  Yikes!  And when my mom was my age, I was already graduated from college and living on my own.  Double yikes!  I guess having a fifth grader certainly keeps one young.  At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

The cicadas haven't poked out of the earth yet (any day now....ewwwww!) so I might get out there this morning and go on a nice long bike ride because it could be my last one for a good six weeks and by then, the hot and humid Cincinnati summer will be here.  Today it's sunny and about 55 degrees ~ just perfect!

Finally, and unexpected surprise came to me overnight...I got an invite to join the creative team for JanaM at The Digichick.  I love Jana's kits, they're colorful and fun and seem to suit my style perfectly.  Of course I'm saying yes, and I'm really excited!  Here are some peeks at some of Jana's recent kits.  I can't wait to get started helping out!

Thanks for reading down to here so far.  And since it's my birthday, I'll be giving away a gift to two lucky winners who leave me birthday comments today....yeah, I'm fishing!  It's my day!  So go ahead and leave me some love and you might get some goodies in return!

Comments

[Debby]

Happy Belated Birthday!!

[Ginger]

Happy Birthday girlie! (sorry I'm late!)

[Tina]

HApPy BiRThDaY Barb!!! I have a cute card for you, not handmade, just funny from Hallmark, but sadly I do not have any .42 cent stamps as of yet!! So, as soon as I get them, your card will be delivered. :)
Hope it's a fabulous year!!!
Love-
Tina

[brandy]

Oh wow what a great ct offer to wake up to! congrats on that and that song is so cute. Happy birthday and hope you have a great time out.

[komashyaru]

Happy Birthday!!

[DawnMarch]

Happy Birthday, Barb! I often think about how my mom was a grandmother by the time she was my age! Scary isn't it!?

[Jassie]

Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have a good one :) Awesome recipe I must try it. Congrats on the awesome CT gig. Her designs rock and you are so talented...so it's a perfect match ;) No housework today!!!

[Aly in GA]

Happy Birthday, Barb! I'm just about to leave you a long-winded comment on your Body Surf layout on DST. And, after reading this post, I have to say that I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU for being chosen to be on Jana's CT. Your layouts are PHENOMENAL! If you don't, or haven't, you really need to teach a class, write some tutes, or even a book on layout and design. If I *ever* have scrapper's block again, I'm coming to YOUR gallery for a mojo infusion. This is my first visit to your blog and gallery, but I'll be back. YOU RAWK!

Peace and Blessings to you today.

[Kellie]

Happy Birthday! I hope you had a great day!

[Renee]

Well, I know I already wished you a happy birthday, but Happy Birthday again! :) And congrats on your new CT gig! She's a lucky girl to have such a talented scrapper on her team! :)

Renee

[KIP]

Hope you've had a wonderful birthday and I love that breakfast casserole!

Kip

[Valorie]

Happy BDay Barb. I think we are fellow Buckeyes aren't we? Have a good one!!

[Sue]

Happy Birthday Barb! May you have a wonderful birthday. Can't wait for Idol tonight. I've got a picture of David Cook for you...sexxxxxy.

[Kristy]

Happy Happy Birthday!!

[Char]

Happy, happy birthday! I hope you can keep ignoring the call of housework, and just have a FUN, RELAXED day!

[Amanda]

Happy Birthday! That casserole looks yummy. I might even be able to get my crew to eat it. They're a picky bunch.

[Margaret]

Happy Birthday to you! I read your blog just about everyday and I love it. Thanks for the recipes and good information on photography and such. Relax and enjoy yourself, housework can wait!

[Debby]

Happy birthday to you
Oh, happy birthday to you
May you find scrapping here
every day of the year
Oh, happy birthday to you
Oh, happy birthday to you
and the best year you've ever had.

[Laura]

Happy Birthday to you. Enjoy your special day - You deserve it!!

Congrats on the CT Invite!!

[Stephanie]

Today is my birthday also - I turn 41 - eek! It isn't fair to be over 40 and still have zits on your chin LOL Anyway, hope your birthday is a great one. I am going to cut and paste the breakfast casserole recipe - it sounds awesome!

[Keely~B]

Happy Birthday Barb!! I can't compete with Shannon's song.( so sweet!) I hope you have an awesome day. Have fun with the new spot and fun scrapping goodies, you'll Rock It!

XOXO

[meems]

happy birthday!
the breakfast casserole looks yummy! cute bday poem and congrats on the new CT

[Melissa]

Happy birthday Barb! Hope your day is really special :) Of course, with that darling birthday song (Definitely scrap-worthy!) it must be already!
Congrats on the CT gig too. That's just fabulous!

[Lela]

Happy Birthday!!! Congrats on the new ct!!

[Laura C.]

Happy Happy Birthday!! I hope your day is a good one! I love your recipe and will have to try this sometime. Oh and definitely don't do any house work today LOL!!!