Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Happy Monday! 

I am happy to report that I FINALLY, after several months with almost nothing, have something useful for you... a new recipe!!  I first tasted something like this at my aunt's house weekend before last, and it was so amazing I did some research and came up with a recipe all my own.  This is perfect if you're making breakfast or brunch for a group of people, because it's phenomenal and it doesn't require a lot of work on the day.  You prepare it the evening before, and toss it in the oven approximately an hour before you need it.  Done.

I made this for four people, and we had probably two servings left over, which was very exciting for our dog.  So tailor my measurements according to your own needs.

Ingredients:

1.    12 slices of bread, de-crusted and cubed

2.    8 oz. of cream cheese

3.    4 eggs

4.    Milk (I didn't measure, sorry)

5.    Cinnamon (approximately 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon)

6.    Maple syrup (approximately 1/8 cup)

7.    1 cup blueberries (washed and divided into 1/4 and 3/4 cup portions)

8.    1 cup sugar

9.    1 cup water

10.  2 tablespoons corn starch

11.  1 tablespoon butter

Method:

CASSEROLE:

Grease the bottom of an 8x8 pan.  Spread the bread cubes.

Evenly dot the cream cheese and 1/4 cup blueberries around the bread.

** Note - The next time I make this, I plan to thaw the cream cheese and whisk it into the egg/milk/cinnamon mixture below because the bread wasn't consistently coated.

Whisk the eggs, milk and cinnamon together.  Evenly spread over the bread.

**  Note - most recipes I studied added the syrup to this mixture.  I completely forgot about it, so I drizzled a little bit on the next morning.  Still very delicious.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, bake (covered) at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  Uncover, stir, and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the egg mixture in the center is completely cooked.

GLAZE:

In a small to medium saucepan, combine the water, sugar and cornstarch and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.  Add the 3/4 cup of blueberries and reduce to simmer.  Stir occasionally (blueberries will start to break and the sauce will become dark.)  {I also pressed some of the blueberries to make the juice come out more.}

Once the sauce is thick, add the butter and stir until dissolved.

Drizzle over the casserole.

The unanimous vote (even from the guest who did not like blueberries) was that it is wonderful.  I highly recommend you try it!

As always, comment with any questions (so other readers can see the answers as well.)  I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!

~ Sarah

Catch Up

Wow, a month with no posting?  What's worse is that I haven't even thought about posting lately, and therefore haven't been taking any pictures of anything I've been doing. 

In my defense, it's been a crazy month.  I had my annual ladies' tea (huge success!), a client wedding, a trip to Columbus for my cousin's wedding, a surprise birthday party for a friend, an awesome camping trip with some besties, Jayson's 30th birthday party (which comes with 4 days of deep-cleaning my house,) an extended visit from my mommy, fire pit dates with friends, and catch-up coffee dates with some girlfriends.  I also cheered a dear friend in her first 5k, bossed my husband with some landscape reorganizing, and discovered a new love of sundresses.

I'm officially 6 months pregnant now, and because of my awful first trimester, I'm still not up to my pre-pregnancy weight.  I am close, but haven't quite arrived there yet.  {And don't worry.  I'm not under some fantasy that it won't catch up to me; I'm sure it will.} 

Did I mention yet that it's a boy?  And he kicks like no child in history has ever kicked (though my mother says that my sister came close.)  Even my doctor was shocked: "Oh!  He's a mover, isn't he?"  He likes his personal space.  If I cramp him at all, he kicks until I stretch out.  If I lay on my side, he kicks the side against the bed until I move.  Jayson was listening for his heartbeat last week, and our son kicked him in the ear.  Hard.  Jayson's been a little afraid to listen for it since.  Can't say I blame him.

If I had been doing what I should've been, I might've taken pictures of some of our Iron Chef Camper recipes (can I just tell you that it was the best year yet??)  But I did not, I'm afraid.  I have no pictures to share from anything over the last month.  I realized with dismay that I haven't photographically docoumented anything lately.  My phone is full of pictures that made me laugh and nothing else.  *sigh*

Anyways, I thought I'd put up a short post to let you know what's been happening, and why I haven't been around.  Truly, I've been very busy.  It's the busiest month I've had in a very long time, and life doesn't show signs of slowing down until next month after my husband's family reunion.  But I did get a new recipe for a Blueberry French Toast casserole, and I'm thinking of squeezing in a girlfriends' breakfast just so I can make it.  If I remember, I'll take pictures and post it here for you.

What has your last month been like??  Do share!

~ Sarah

P.S. As you may know, my favorite blog is Posie Gets Cozy.  If you have a second, check out this story she wrote about her neighbor growing up.  I loved it, but I can't put my finger on why.