Miranda's Breakfast Casserole

For those of you who were lucky enough to enjoy the nice brunch after Carol and Denis' "non-farewell" you probably agree when I say, "I know that I could have eaten a whole pan of this!"  Thanks Miranda for sharing the recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb breakfast sausage
3 c shredded potatoes
1/4 c butter, melted
12 oz Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 c onion, chopped
6 jumbo eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.  In a deep skillet, cook sausage until evenly brown.  Drain, crumble and set aside.  In the prepared baking dish, stir together potatoes, and butter.  Line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with the mixture, creating a "crust".  In a bowl, mix the sausage, cheese, onion and eggs.  Pour over the potato mixture.  Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into center of the casserole comes out clean.  Let cook 5 minutes before serving.

As you saw, Miranda had all sorts of fabulous options, so feel free to adapt to your tastes!

Nutty Granola

This is super easy to make and yummy. I love to put some on my yogurt.

8 cups oats

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups chopped Almonds (I used roasted Almonds)

1 cup wheat germ

2 cups rice crispies cereal

1 tsp salt

1 Tbsp cinnamon

3/4 cup honey

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup water

3/4 cup oil

2 Tbsp vanilla (I have als used Almond Extract. Both are very good)

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl. Heat honey, brown sugar, water, and oil in a saucepan till sugar is dissolved. Add vanilla and pour over oat mixture. Stir till well coated. Divide between 2 greased 15x10" cookie sheets with sides. Bake at 275 for one hour, stirring after 30 minutes. Cool and store in airtight container. You can also add raisins, dates, craisins, or any other dried fruit after the granola is cool.

Notes:

--You can use all honey or all brown sugar, this is just the combination my family likes.

--I use extra virgin coconut oil in this recipe because it is really good for you. It speeds your metabolism, strengthens your immune system, reduces your risk of heart disease.

Banana Whole Wheat Pancakes

This is so YUMMY. I made it for dinner tonight while Quinn and Levi were gone. I doubled it and served it with Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup.

2/3 c. unbleached flour
1/3 c. whole wheat flour
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 egg, beaten
2/3 c. milk
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1 banana, mashed

Mix together dry ingredients. Add beaten egg, milk and butter. Add 1 mashed banana and mix until well blended, but lumpy. Pour desired size pancake onto a medium-hot lightly greased or buttered griddle.

NOTE: You can make the dry mix ahead of time and then just add the wet ingredients to 1 cup of the dry mix.

Serve with Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup

Cinnamon Vanilla Syrup
(Could be doubled)

1 c packed dark brown sugar

1 tsp double strength vanilla extract

1 c water

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tbsps heavy cream *

Directions:

Step #1 Combine the water & the sugar in a heavy saucepan & bring to a boil over high heat.

Step #2 Keep stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Step #3 Keep boiling until syrup is reduced to about 1 c.

Step #4 Remove from heat & whisk in the cinnamon, cream, & vanilla.

Step #5 Keep warm until served, can be put in the fridged for up to about 2 weeks.

Step #6 Rewarm before serving.

Enjoy the Cinnamon Vanilla Pancake Syrup recipe

* Heavy Cream Substitute·

3/4 cup milk·

1/3 cup butter

Preparation:

1. Melt the butter.

2. Pour it into the milk, and stir.

3. Use in place of one cup of heavy cream.