My family isn’t steeped too deeply in family traditions.
As kids, we didn’t go to the same summer vacation spot year after year nor did we play the perennial party games at the annual family reunion.
But we did always gather as a group on Thanksgiving and Christmas. And that’s why it’s my favorite time of year. Memories of us all getting together to eat, share, arm wrestle—and beat—my boy cousins and watch TBS’s 24 hour A Christmas Story marathon.
Mommy’s little piggy: my all-time favorite scene:
Every Christmas morning for each of my 29 ‘plus’ years, I’ve had this Breakfast Casserole—officially named Ham Souffle but really more of a strata—made the night before and then baked on Christmas morn in all of its gooey, cheesy, ground ham find me under the mistletoe union.
And it is special.
My mom found the recipe in the Ogden Junior League Cookbook under the section “Beautiful Brunches”—a rag tag binder copy that I still have—and would make it only on Christmas morning, for all of the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins to covet and savor.
photo > FoodieCrush
On Christmas Eve day, my sister and I would help my mom prep: tear the bread, mix the eggs, shred the cheese and start layering over the ham. We’d toss the filled casserole pans in the fridge to rest overnight, ready to be popped in the oven the next morning as we lounged in our PJs and took turns opening presents.
Once the family arrived, slipping off snow shoes and swapping stories of what Santa brought, we’d pull the bubbling casseroles from the oven, and serve buffet style with blueberry muffins and Angela’s Frosty Cranberry Mold, savoring every single bite. And the occasional serving of fudge.
The dish never dared make another appearance at any other time of the year because then it would be somehow tarnished, its sparkle dimmed just a touch.
Now that us kids have all gotten older, and are having kids of our own, we’ve all dispersed and no longer get together as a group on Christmas morning.
But the tradition lives on, with my sister, cousins and extended family sharing Breakfast Casserole with their own families.
Check out Reluctant Entertainer’s Pear and Vanilla French Toast on page 32 of FoodieCrush magazine and see Sandy’s 5 tips for a stress-free Christmas morning.
Ham & Cheese Breakfast Souffle Casserole
makes 9 X 13 casserole pan
allow time for casserole to sit in refrigerator overnight
1 1/2 loaves white bread
2 pounds ground ham
1 pound medium cheddar cheese, grated
8 eggs
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon parsley
- Prepare 9 X 13 pan with softened butter. Tear slices of bread into 1 inch pieces and cover bottom of pan with bread, fitting tightly.
- Layer half of the ground ham over bread, and then layer half of the cheese over ham.
- Add another layer of bread slices, then ham and then cheese. Finish with a final layer of bread.
- In a 1 quart measuring cup, mix together eggs and milk. In a small bowl, take 1 tablespoon of egg and milk mixture and mix in mustard until smooth. Add into quart measuring cup and mix well. Add parsley and pour over casserole, evenly distributing wet ingredients. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake at 325 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until eggs are set. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
photo > Lauren’s Latest
A big nod to the nog in Lauren’s Latest make-ahead Egg Nog Breakfast Pudding with Cinnamon Whipped Cream, perfectly decadent for the perfectly sweet Christmas morning. P.S. Don’t miss checking out the link on her website of Lauren out cooking Sandra Lee with her Brownie Cheesecake Peppermint Bars on Good Morning America!
photo > The Palate PleaserÂ
Heeding her husband’s wishes (you could too, it is Christmas afterall), Regina created a crustless quiche, and The Palate Pleaser’s gluten-free, Bacon Leek and Asparagus Quiche ala breakfast hero was born.
photo > The Faux Martha
With a little bit of healthy—thanks to whole wheat bread—and a little bit of sweet—with a touch of turbinado—Melissa’s created just the right balance to bring some jingle to your jangle on Christmas morning with The Faux Martha’s Baked French Toast.
photo > Food People Want
What better way to show your holiday well-roundedness and celebrate the Hannukah’s Festival of Lights than having Michael of Food People Want give us the guide to making your own gravlax and then…
photo > From Donuts to Delirium
Use that homemade gravlax with Donuts to Delirium’s Mini Bagels topped with cream cheese wonderfulness. Slice, spread and serve.
I was recently visited by The Fairy Hobmother, Amy from Appliances Online, who brought me a $40 Amazon gift certificate and she can bring you one too. Just leave a comment on this post for a chance to be visited by the Fairy Hobmother. Merry Christmas Fairy Hobmother.
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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh what a perfect Christmas morning breakfast! Although I think I’d struggle to save this delight for just once a year…
Kathryn recently posted..baileys and chocolate chip cookies
It is not an easy task, I assure you. the best part of doing this post was making it Pre-Xmas.
Any and all breakfast casseroles can take permanent residence in my belly. These. look. off. the. charts.
Bev Weidner recently posted..Meyer Lemon Hot Toddy
Do you have any breakfast eats like this on your site? Would love to see.
Martha’s french toast and Lauren’s bread pudding have had me salivating for days now.
Love this roundup!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga recently posted..Creamy Cookie Butter White Chocolate Banana Smoothie
Great ideas for Christmas morning!
Maria recently posted..Chocolate Nutella & Sea Salt Fudge
Yum. Those all look amazing. And perfect timing – we are trying to figure out a menu for our Christmas Day brunch.
sarah recently posted..no-knead pizza dough
Well this just made my day Heidi! Thanks for including me in the make-ahead round up. And now I’m laughing out loud at my desk after watching that clip. It’s one of my faves too. My dad watches it non stop at Christmas. He turns into a little boy watching that movie.
Melissa // thefauxmartha recently posted..Peppermint Bark + a wish
My only trouble putting together roundups is to not feature you in every post. Your peppermint series has me
In fits, lovely.
Thank you so much for including me in this delicious round up. I think that baked french toast has my name on it
*kisses* HH
Heavenly Housewife recently posted..Heavenly Housewife and the Winter Blues
You are oh so welcome, would live to catch up with you and learn more about you and your blog.
Wow, that Ham and Cheese Casserole looks wonderful. I am so going to make that for us to have on Christmas morning. Thanks for posting the recipe and having such a mouth watering picture!
Sue T. recently posted..Roast Chicken
I love doing things ahead of time, but would have to substitute…maybe mushrooms for the ham since we’re vegetarians. Happy Holidays! XOXO
Susan recently posted..Happy Baking
Definitely mushroom worthy. I have another recipe to post in Feb for a mushroom, spinach, gruyere strata. It’s in the Cooks Illustrated ‘The New Best Recipe’ cookbook and is delicious. Do you have that cookbook?
So many good choices for breakfast!
Isn’t it wonderful to relax while breakfast is making itself on Holiday Mornings? Thanks for the inspirations!
YUMS! I am a total quiche girl on Christmas morning, but I think I am going to have to incorporate the baked french toast this year to mix it up!
heather nan recently posted..The Hackworths | Utah Family Photography
Yum, would love any quiche recipes you have. I was at The Grand today and thought of you the whole time. XO
Wow.. just.. wow! So much deliciousness I don’t know which to choose! Would it be wrong of me to want to make them all? Well maybe not make them all..but definitely eat them!
Now THAT would be a meal to remember.
Great list – since i am Swedish we celebrate Christmas Eve and have lots of herring and gravlax which i make fresh. But for Christmas Day i always make Strata and love it has become such a tradition. God Jul!
Delishhh recently posted..Rugelach
What do you make for your Swedish breakfast?
for Ham & Cheese Breakfast Souffle Casserole, do I bake it cover or uncovered?
I have a similar recipe, after baking for 60 minutes, the eggs didn’t set, at 90 minutes still didn’t set. And finally at 120 minutes. Only difference is the recipe said to cover with foil to bake. Wondering if that is the culprit. I have 2 other girlfriends making the same recipe, same issue.
Please advise.
Thanks!
I baked this one uncovered for 50 minutes, and I bake it in a clear Pyrex pan do I can see it create bubbles on the side of the pan which signals its done. If its not getting done in the middle, check your egg and milk ratio. You may need more eggs to make itore of a souffle and less milk or cream. Some years we bake it with foil on and it might change the bake time a little, but an extra hour seems way off.
Heidi,
I will try your recipe for our Christmas morning breakfast, will try it uncovered when baking it. Can’t wait to try it. The failed recipe, 10 people were waiting hungrily for an hour late breakfast.
Appreciate your tip.
Thanks!
delicious holiday foods here and i love the “non-traditional” tradition memories! my family is rooted in tradition and the holidays are such a special time to really ring them all in! merry Christmas heidi!
Tiffany recently posted..Maple Egg Nog Cupcakes
Looks really good!
These recipes are all perfect for a cozy Christmas morning brunch! Thank you!
Yum! My mouth is watering… Merry Christmas to you!
Ah, another favorite! I am so grateful to be an addition to your wonderful family~ and this breakfast dish is to die for! Happy Christmas to you and yours~ xo
We make a Peach Baked French Toast for Christmas only! I had to clarify for my daughter that I was going to make it but wanted to ADD another dish for our growing family. We’ve also started a Father’s Day breakfast that isn’t allowed to change either!
Baked french toast is my fave! I can’t wait to try out the ham and cheese souffle casserole.
Whatever DeeDee Wants recently posted..Merry Christmas!
I am in charge of breakfast one day at my family’s cabin getaway in a few days, and I’ve been trying to narrow down what I’m going to make. Any of these would be great for a crowd!!
Deborah recently posted..Mini Chickpea Cakes
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