The Best Breakfast Casserole, Hot Fruit Casserole
You know I love the tradition of Southern Cooking and entertaining.
My mother taught me the importance of presentation, as well as, delicious tasty food.
I thought with these cold mornings and weekends, I would share with you a couple of our Christmas morning family recipes.
The Best Breakfast Casserole
Tear 4 slices of white bread and place in a greased 9 x 13-inch dish. I use a Pyrex dish.
Brown and drain 1 pound of Dean’s mild sausage.
Spoon sausage over bread. Sprinkle with a 8-ounce package of extra-sharp cheese, grated. (always grate your own cheese)
Beat 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, little salt and dash of black pepper.
Pour over mixture in baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until brown.
You may have to increase the temperature the last few minutes for it to brown.
Andy’s Note: You need to put this together the day before and bake it the next morning. (which is one reason it is so wonderful)
When Doug and I first married, my mother fried quail, made milk gravy and angel biscuits every Christmas morning for years.
When Doug stopped hunting quail, we switched to this breakfast casserole.
In my opinion, this is the “Best of the Best.”
I have doubled and tripled this recipe.
Hot Fruit Casserole
1 large can sliced peaches
1 large can pear halves
1 large can pineapple chunks
1 large can mixed fruit salad (large chunks)
1 large can apricot halves
small jar of cherries
4 teaspoons flour
1 cup brown sugar
2 sticks of butter
1 cup sherry (not cooking sherry)
Drain all fruit. Combine butter, flour, sugar and sherry.
Cook until thickened. Arrange fruit in a shallow casserole. (3 quart)
Pour sauce over and refrigerate over night.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
Andy’s Note: Arrange your fruits real attractively before you pour your sauce.
This is a gorgeous dish with all of the beautiful colors of the fruit.
This is also a wonderful dish to serve with turkey or ham.
Great menu for Christmas morning (or any morning).
Breakfast casserole, cheese grits, milk gravy, bacon, angel biscuits, orange rolls (Pillsbury from the dairy) and good hot coffee!
This is a tradition in my family now!
Happy Cooking to all of you!
— Andy Bedwell
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased at Alabama Gift Shop, Little Faces Doll Shop and at the Messenger office on Broad Street.
