~~~~Christmas Morning Breakfast~~~~

I will be going to my daughters over the next two days to help prepare for Christmas... May the warmest smiles, the sweetest dreams, and the happiest heart be yours at Christmas and always. Merry Christmas my friends

I have always made some kind of special breakfast for my family on Christmas morning... I have many wonderful casserole recipes that I have made for years... Several years ago a dear friend of mine gave me this recipe for Baked French Toast. It is fairly easy to prepare and the best part is in the morning you just stick it in the oven and bake it while you are opening presents... My Step grandsons love this breakfast and they are very picky eaters... So I decided to share it with you all...

Baked French Toast Casserole with Maple Syrup

1 Loaf french bread (13 to 16 ozs)

8 large eggs

2 cups half & half

1 cup milk

2 TBS. granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

Dash salt

Praline Topping

Maple Syrup

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

Praline Topping:

½ pound (2 sticks) butter

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 TBS. light corn syrup

½ tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40-60 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Until Later