Christmas Morning Breakfast

One of the most memorable Christmas traditions from my childhood is the huge breakfast that my mom and dad put out every year on Christmas morning. Egg Casserole, Oven Baked French Toast, Coffee Cakes, Streudels, platters of bacon and sausage, dad's Buttermilk Blueberry Pancakes, grapefruit halves topped with candied cherries, and bowls of fresh fruit were all served on crystal and china as my mom's parents, my dad's parents, and even my great grandparents gathered around the candle-lit table with my mom and dad, my sisters, and me. Every time I picture the scene I get a warm, fuzzy feeling. I can almost smell the bacon frying and the Christmas coffee dripping into the pot. I can hear the hum of voices, of conversations running together, and the swells of laughter, shocking me out of my food coma. Ahhh, the Christmas breakfast.

To this day, I still love Christmas morning breakfast. I had planned to share some of my favorite breakfast recipes earlier in the week, however the flu has hit our home and put me behind in my posting. I'm sure that most of you have your menus in place. Your groceries are purchased and put away, just waiting to be whipped into those cherished breakfast recipes. But if you happen to still be looking for that perfect Christmas morning dish, then here are some of my all-time favorite breakfast recipes. Starting with pancakes...

As I mentioned above, my dad always made the Christmas pancakes. Blueberry. Sometimes in the shape of Mickey Mouse. I don't think that he has a recipe, he just dumps. In addition to blueberry pancakes, I'm also fan of these Pumpkin Spice Pancakes.



Then there's the french toast. In August, I tried a new recipe. This Bananas Foster French Toast Casserole was dee-licious!



I also have two tried and true favorite oven french toast recipes, that I alternate every year. Just click on the links to get the recipes for the recipes for Blueberry French Toast and this awesome Oven French Toast with Nut Topping . Why "oven"? Because you can make the casserole the night before, stick it in the fridge, then just pop it into the oven on Christmas morning, freeing up that griddle space for the pancakes, bacon, and sausage.

Speaking of bacon, I guess you don't have to fry it up on the griddle. You could bake the bacon. This year I made these Bacon Twists for the first time. Love them!



I usually just make a basic Sausage, Egg and Cheese Casserole. I haven't written about my egg casserole here yet, but I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. It's exactly the same as the recipe that I use. It's always big hit with my family.

If you're looking for a quiche, this Onion Pie




or this Spinach Bacon Quiche are SO good!



If you prefer to give a nod to some down-home, old-fashioned, breakfast cuisine like I do, then try this Fried Mush. It's still one of my favorites!



If you're looking for baked goods, I'm a big fan of these Banana Streusel Muffins with Caramel Glaze.



And these Cranberry Orange Scones.



Oh, and also this One Egg Blueberry Cake!



I can't believe that I've never posted about my family's breakfast streudel on this blog! I'll definitely be writing about that one next year!

With all of the breakfast recipes that I've just posted, you might expect that I would be very busy today, cooking up a storm. Not so. This year we're keeping it simple. It'll just be our little family of 4 home on Christmas day. We're travelling the day after (hopefully we'll get a little Christmas miracle of our own and everyone will be healthy...or at least healthier.) I asked my husband and children what they would like for Christmas breakfast...anything that they wanted...sky was the limit. Do you know what they picked?



Yep. Biscuits and sausage gravy. It's their favorite. It sure is making my job easy this year.

Whatever you're making for breakfast, wherever you are...I wish you all the happiest of holidays, filled with peace and joy and love!