Make Ahead Holiday Breakfast Casserole

 

Assemble this casserole the night before for a simple, delicious breakfast on Christmas morning. 

Ingredients

• 16 ounces pork sausage

• 10 eggs, lightly beaten

• 3 cups milk

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 6 cups cubed bread (try Jamesport Sourdough bread, cubed & stored in freezer)

• 2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 cup diced red pepper

• sliced green onion

Instructions

1. Butter a 9 x 13 x 2 inch casserole dish.
2. In large skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, stirring frequently until thoroughly cooked and no longer pink.
3. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and salt until thoroughly combined.
4. Evenly distribute half the bread into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with half the cheese, half the black pepper, half the red pepper, and half the sausage. Repeat layers.
5. Pour egg mixture evenly over casserole.
6. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
7. When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 325 F. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until eggs are set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover the casserole dish with foil.
8. Sprinkle the casserole with sliced green onions. Serve warm.

Poached & Roasted Turkey

This turkey recipe ensures juicy meat and a crackling brown skin by following a traditional process from Bresse, the French capital of poultry. It involves first poaching the bird, then roasting it the next day.

1 quart turkey stock
4 medium carrots, roughly chopped
3 onions, thickly sliced
1 head of garlic, peeled
butter, or duck fat (if available)
organic turkey, 14-16 lbs
salt & pepper


Combine the stock, carrots, onions and garlic in a stock pot large enough to hold the turkey.  Fill it with water up to half-way.  Bring to boil over medium-high heat.

While the stock heats, rinse the turkey and, starting at the neck, carefully seperate the skin from the breast and upper thighs with your fingers, being careful not to tear the skin.  Rub butter or fat all over the outside, in between the skin and flesh.  Truss the turkey.  (This is note mandatory, but makes it easier to handle the bird later.)

When the stock begins to boil, generously season it with salt and pepper.  Add turkey to pot and adjust heat so it simmers.  Cover the pot with a lid and make sure the turkey is submerged.  Simmer for 40 minutes, then remove pot from heat and let turkey slowly cool to room temperature in the broth, up to 4 hours.  Refrigerate turkey still in pot.

The next day, preheat oven to 475 degrees F.  Take the bird out of the pot, place it on a rack in a roasting pan and roast it in the oven for 30 minutes.  Turn the oven off, leaving bird inside for about an hour. 

When you are ready to eat, the turkey will be perfectly cooked and nicely roasted.  Be sure to strain and save the left-over stock for soup. 

Traditional Eggnog

(Modified from Joy of Cooking)
Makes about 18 servings

12 eggs
1 pound confectioner’s sugar
2 quarts (64 ounces) heavy cream
4 cups dark rum or brandy
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Freshly grated nutmeg


Separate 12 eggs and put whites in the fridge. Beat 12 yolks in a large bowl until light in color.
Gradually beat in 1 pound confectioner’s sugar. Add 2 cups of your chosen liquor(s) very slowly, beating constantly.

Note: Joy of Cooking says you can use dark rum, brandy, bourbon or rye. I usually use dark rum and brandy but it depends on what is lying around the house. Whiskey works, too.

Let stand, covered, in the fridge for 1 hour. Then add 2 more cups of chosen liquor(s) and heavy cream, beating constantly. Add cinnamon and vanilla extract.

Refrigerate, covered, for 3 hours to several days.

Before you serve it, fold in a proportional amount of fresh-beaten egg whites. If you’re only serving half the nog, take out half the egg whites, beat them until stiff but not dry, and fold them into the nog just before serving.

Sprinkle each serving with freshly grated nutmeg.

*Recipe Re-printed from Edible Long Island Holiday Issue 2015