Sweet or Savory: 3 Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Breakfast Dishes

Here are three easy Thanksgiving breakfast ideas you can modify using your families’ favorite ingredients. Sweet french toast, savory egg casserole, or a healthful parfait, get creative designing a new culinary tradition for your family to enjoy every year.

Cr�¨me Br�»l�©e French Toast
Sweet, gooey, and oh so good! The basic recipe ingredients from http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Creme-Brulee-French-Toast-15213 calls for:

1 stick unsalted butter
1 c brown sugar
2 T corn syrup
1 1/2 c half and half
5 large eggs
1 t Grand Marnier

1 t vanilla

round bread (I like to use egg challah with raisins)

*. Melt butter, sugar, corn syrup and pour into bottom of pan
* cut bread into 8 thick slices (I slice off ends) and squish into bottom of pan
* mix together eggs, half and half, Grand Marnier, and tiny pinch of salt. Pour over bread
(it will look like it’s drowning the bread…don’t worry)
* Cover with aluminum foil and place in frig overnight and in the morning bring to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake uncovered till slightly brown and puffy. LET IT SET for at least 5 minutes. Invert over large platter.

Tweak It

I have never met a recipe I didn’t want to tweak. Here are some ideas of how you can change it up.
Sliced bananas saut�©ed with some brown sugar and butter. This could work with peaches or pears too. (Just layer on top of the brown sugar/butter mixture)
Toast some slivered almonds in oven till lightly golden and sprinkle in after inverting for texture and crunch
Add some grated orange zest to the egg mixture before pouring over bread Scrape the seeds of a vanilla bean into the egg mixture for a more intense vanilla flavor

Savory Egg Casserole

You can incorporate almost any combination of meats and veggies with this make ahead breakfast dish. I like to use bacon (who doesn’t!) or pancetta, cook down onions till caramelized. The veggies are best when previously roasted giving the casserole tons of flavor. Throw in any cheese your family likes. Here are some suggestions:

Meats: bacon, ham, pancetta, sausage Veggies: onions, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, squash, jalapeno Cheeses: cheddar, american, feta, muenster…limitless suggestions

The night before pre-cook the veggies by roasting or use any leftovers you have. I like to line the pan with hash browns and lightly bake them till barely golden. Brown up whatever meat you choose to use. Beat together eggs, milk, salt and pepper to taste. Add in 3-5 drops of hot sauce. Add eggs, meats, cheeses to casserole dish and cover in frig. Bring to room temperature in the morning then bake at 350 till set, approx. 30-35 minutes.

Yogurt and Fruit Parfait

*Vanilla or plain yogurt * Berries(any kind) * Granola or any kind of nuts

Assemble the night before in parfait glasses. Use whatever berries you like best. Layer the berries and yogurt. You can drizzle some honey over the berries on each layer. Toast some granola/nuts in the oven for 6-8 minutes until barely golden but you can smell the aroma. Store the granola topping in a Ziploc bag till ready to serve. Sprinkle on top.