Black Friday Brunch
By Meka A Harley
Some of my girlfriends have started a new Thanksgiving tradition within the past few years. Each year after the guests have gone, all clean up is done, and the Thanksgiving leftovers put away, after their kids and husbands have gone to bed, they all meet in a central location, climb into a minivan and make their yearly pilgrimage. At midnight they join hundreds of other faithful shoppers at the outlet mall to take advantage of the Black Friday sales.
Each year they invite me to go with them. Each year I say "no." Don't get me wrong, I love a good sale and it sounds like fun and all. Scoring dirt cheap electronics and children's clothing for as little as 99 cents sounds like a dream. Standing out in the cold past my bedtime and fighting with several hundred other people to score said dirt cheap merchandise does not. I much prefer to spend Black Friday at home in the warmth of my bed. If I need to score a Black Friday deal or two, I can do so with just a few clicks of the mouse when I am fully awake.
Still, hearing their stories is quite intriguing to me and it all sounds like so much fun. So this year I have decided to do something different. No, I am still not going to the Black Friday sales. Instead I am planning a Black Friday after party at my house. Typically at the end of their shopping adventure my friends stop at a nearby diner for breakfast before heading home. But this year the breakfast stop will be at my house.
Since my friends will have been up all night, the goal is to keep the menu as simple as possible. Simplicity allows them to come unwind and connect around a good meal in a relaxed atmosphere with friends. And as a Black Friday non-participant it allows me to share in their adventure in some way without actually going to the stores.
One of the easiest main courses to prepare for such an event is breakfast casserole. The breakfast casserole recipe I am using can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning so it is hot and ready by the time my tired friends arrive, and they can still make it home in a timely manner if they so choose. My hash brown casserole has been a winner over the years at a variety of functions and is very easy to make. It is also a wonderful dish for a Christmas breakfast. Here's how to make it.
Ingredients
1 (32) ounce package of hash browns
2 tablespoons of cooking oil
1 �-2 pounds of ground breakfast sausage (I use turkey sausage)
1 small onion chopped
1 small bell pepper chopped
10 large eggs
1 cup of milk (I use 1%)
1 8 ounce package of low fat cream cheese
� teaspoon of ground dry mustard
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups of shredded cheese (I use 2% cheddar)
Directions
1. In a medium mixing bowl thoroughly mix the hash browns with one tablespoon of cooking oil (this can be done by hand)
2. Coat a 9X13 inch baking pain with cooking spray
3. Press the hash browns evenly along the surface of baking pan at about the thickness of a pie crust.
4. Place the hash brown crust in the oven under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until it starts to brown
5. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside
6. In a medium skillet saut� the chopped onion and bell pepper on medium high in a tablespoon of oil until the onion becomes translucent
7. Add the sausage to the same pan and cook until it is no longer pink
8. Remove the pan from the stove and set aside.
9. Place the eggs milk, cream cheese and spices in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
10. Spread the sausage, onion, and green pepper mixture evenly on the hash brown crust
11. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture
12. Distribute the cheddar cheese on top of the casserole, cover with foil and refrigerate overnight
13. In the morning bake the casserole uncovered at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
14. Let it set for about 10-15 minutes before serving.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Meka_A_Harley
http://EzineArticles.com/?Black-Friday-Brunch&id=6694051
Image source: Google. Image doesn't necessarily reflect the recipe in the above article.
