Cheese Sausage Strata

• 1 1/2 lbs. pork sausage
• 9 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 c. milk
• 9 slices bread, cubed
• 1 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 1/2 t. ground mustard

In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain.  Add the eggs, milk, bread, cheese, bacon, and mustard.  Transfer to a greased shallow 3 qt. baking dish.  Cover and refrigerate over night.  

Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until a knife inserted near the corner comes out clean.  Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. 

Yield: 12 servings

Things I loved about this dish:

~So simple. 

~ Only dirty three dishes

~Make the night before then throw it in the oven the next morning for a yummy, effortless breakfast.

~ Leftovers!

Homemade Biscuits and Gravy

• 1/4 lb.  Pork Sausage
• 2 T. Butter
• 2-3 T. All Purpose Flour
• 1/4 t. Salt
• 1/8 t. Pepper
• 1 1/4-1 1/3 c. Milk
• Warm biscuits

In a skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add butter and heat until melted.  Add the flour, salt and pepper; cook and stir until blended.

Gradually add the milk, stirring constantly.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Serve over biscuits.

 Yield: 2-4 servings.

This recipe is beyond easy and takes only about 15 minutes to make.  Due to me usually being too hungry and impatient to make homemade biscuits in the morning, I usually stick with good ole Bisquick or the ones right out of the can.  The tasty gravy compensates. Whenever I make these for guests we literally have a bunch of "plate lickers". It's that good.

Crockpot Orange Chicken

Found this recipe on Pinterest

• Boneless chicken breasts, chopped into small chunks
• 1/3 c. flour
• Olive Oil
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 t. Balsamic Vinegar
• 3 T. Ketchup
• 4-6 oz. frozen orange juice concentrate (thaw or put in microwave for 45 seconds)
• 4 T. brown sugar

In a small bowl, mix together orange juice, salt, brown sugar, vinegar and ketchup.  In another small bowl, pour the  flour. Cover the chicken breast chunks in the flour and shake off excess. Pour a small amount of oil in a skillet and brown the chicken. The chicken only needs to be browned not cooked all the way through at it will continue to cook in the crockpot.  Overcooking with make dry chicken.  After the chicken is done being browned dump them into a crockpot. Then pour sauce mixture over top giving it a good stir.  Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 11/2-2 hours. Serve over rice.  

German Pancakes

I've heard these called all kinds of different things such as Puff Up Pancakes but German Pancakes is what we call them in my family.

• 6 eggs
• 1 c. flour
• 1 c. milk
• 1/2 t. salt
• dash of vanilla extract

Mix ingredients together in blender.  Melt 6 T. butter in oblong pan. Be careful not to burn.  Pour egg mixture into pan. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes. 

My favorite way to eat these is just to drizzle maple syrup over it.  They are also tasty with syrup and powdered sugar, or berries, or jam. You decided.

If you want to mix it up a little try these renditions:

• Try adding fruit to the egg mixture and pour in the pan making fruity German Pancakes (blueberries are always good)
• Try adding ham and cheese to the egg mixture and pour into the pan.
• Adding bacon is tasty as well