French Toast Casserole

1 loaf French Bread

8 whole eggs

2 cups whole milk

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 cups sugar

2 Tbls vanilla extract

Topping

1/2 cup All-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick cold butter (NOT margarine), cut into pieces

Grease 9 x 13-inch baking pan with butter. Cut bread into cubes and evenly distribute in the pan. Mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in the fridge several hours or overnight.

In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add nutmeg if desired. Add butter pieces and but into the dry mixture until mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a Ziploc in the fridge.

When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture over the top. (If you're using fruit, sprinkle on before the crumb mixture.) Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture. Bake 1 hour or more for a firmer, less liquid texture. Top with butter and maple syrup.

I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman.

Poppy Seed Chicken

2-3 cups cooked rice

2-3 cups chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 cup sour cream

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1 cup crushed Ritz crackers

1/4 cup melted butter

1 Tablespoon poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Boil raw chicken breasts with salt and pepper until done. Let chicken cool slightly and cut into one inch cubes. Layer cooked rice on the bottom of 9x9 casserole dish, then cover with chicken.

Stir together the condensed soup and sour cream. Pour over the chicken and rice. Top with crushed crackers and poppy seeds. Then pour the melted butter on top of the crackers. Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until the top of the casserole is browned and the sauce is bubbly. 

Shepherd's Pie

1 lb ground beef (or turkey)

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 can green beans

4 cups mashed potatoes (6-7 potatoes)

1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Brown hamburger and drain. Spread the soup on bottom of 9x9 casserole dish, then top with hamburger. Next, add green beans and spread evenly. Top with mashed potatoes. Spread cheese on top of potatoes. Cover with tin foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes; remove tin foil for last 10 minutes.

*Sometimes when I want to shake things up, I substitute Cream of Mushroom for tomato sauce. 

Breakfast Casserole

1 lb. sausage, bacon or ham
3/4 c. sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. mushrooms, chopped
5 eggs
1 3/4 c. milk
6-8 slices of bread (cubed)

Place cubed bread in casserole dish, put cooked sausage, bacon or ham on top. Add sharp cheese, mushrooms on top of meat.

Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper, pour over top.

Let stand 5 minutes then bake at 350 until brown (35 minutes).