Cheesy Bacon & Egg Casserole

Ingredients:

8 slices bacon

1 medium onion, chopped (1 cup)

1 loaf (8 ounces) Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (5 cups)

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup cottage cheese

5 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook bacon in large skillet until crisp. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the drippings.

Drain bacon on paper towels; crumble and set aside. Add onion to drippings in skillet; cook and stir 3 minutes or until softened.

Spread 1/2 of the bread cubes in 13x9-inch baking dish. Layer with 1/2 each of the onion, bacon, Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese. Spread evenly with cottage cheese. Top with remaining bread cubes, onion, bacon, Cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese.

Beat eggs in medium bowl until foamy. Add milk, mustard, nutmeg and pepper; beat until well blended. Pour evenly over top. Press bread cubes lightly into egg mixture until completely covered.

Let stand 10 minutes.

Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until center is set and top is golden brown.

Sausage Egg Biscuit Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork sausage with sage, crumbled
• 1/2 cup red peppers, chopped
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
• 4 frozen pre-baked biscuits
• 10 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups of milk
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup frozen broccoli cuts, defrosted
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In an 11'' oven-safe pan, sauté the pork sausage, peppers, and onions over medium-high heat for approximately 10 minutes, or until the sausage is fully cooked. Remove from heat.

Cut each biscuit into about 8 pieces and arrange evenly in the pan with the sausage, peppers, and onions.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, milk, oregano, salt, and pepper until combined. Stir in the broccoli and cheese. Pour the mixture over the sausage, peppers, onions, and biscuits. Give the mixture a slight stir to disperse the ingredients, then press the biscuits down with the back of your spoon to cover them in the egg mixture.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving

Caramel Apple Butter

Ingredients:

• 4 lb. firm, crisp apples, like Fuji or King David
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• 1½ cups granulated sugar
• 2 tbsp. butter
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream, at room temperature
• 2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1½ tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ tsp. kosher salt

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Peel and core apples; cut them into eighths. Toss with oil and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Roast for 1½ hours, until golden; set aside. When apples are cool enough to handle, place in the bowl of a food processor and purée slightly; set aside.

In a 4-qt. saucepan over high heat, combine granulated sugar and ½ cup water. Cook without stirring, 7–9 minutes, or until a candy thermometer reads 385°. When it starts to caramelize, swirl the pan gently for even color. Slowly whisk in cream, then butter. Lower heat to medium and whisk until thick, about 1 minute longer. Remove from heat and whisk in brown sugar. With the motor of the food processor running, stream caramel into bowl with apples and purée until slightly smooth. Add lemon juice, vanilla, and salt and mix until combined.

Makes 3 cups.