Breakfast Casserole

This is based on a recipe my mom received from a colleague after a breakfast at her school years ago.  I've made some modifications to make it my own.  It often appears as our Christmas morning pre-presents meal and at the annual Snowflake Brunch. A real crowd pleaser! (*Note: it's best to rest this overnight so plan ahead!)

Ingredients:

1 medium Challah bread- cut into 1 inch cubes
1 package cream cheese- cut up when chilled into 1/2 inch cubes
10 eggs

2 cups milk

1 tea salt
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup maple syrup

1 package breakfast sausage links 

Set oven to preheat at 350.  Bake sausage links in oven according to directions, then chop into little pieces.

Spray 9x12 glass or metal pan with PAM.

Throw in bread cubes, sprinkle with cream cheese and sausage.

In blender, mix eggs, milk, salt, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg and maple syrup.

Pour egg mixture over bread, pushing down bread to soak. The bread and egg mixture should be almost to the top, but not right at the top, depending on how big your loaf is.  The bread should soak up most but not all of the liquid. Use most of the eggs, then push and check it out. Add the rest if necessary.

Rest overnight or for at least a few hours if possible.

Bake uncovered for 50 or so minutes at 350 uncovered.  Test by sticking a knife into the center.  The knife should come out moist but clean.  If it starts to brown too much, throw foil on top, being careful not to squish it down.  It will puff while cooking, then settle after it comes out of the oven. 

Serve with warm maple syrup.



Meal Modifications:
*If you don't have challah bread, white bread will work fine. 
*Sausage links can be omitted or switched to chicken or even veggie sausage (always thinking about you vegetarians!)
*You can take this in a different direction and make it an Egg Casserole.  Use the same amount of bread, eggs, salt, sausage and milk, omitting all other ingredients.  To make it veggified, include 1 small chopped and cooked onion, 1 chopped and cooked red pepper, 1 cup baby spinach.  To make it carnivorous, add bacon instead of- or in addition to- the sausage. Serve with ketchup.