Birthday Brunch!

Hey Down Home Friends,

I came across this great recipe when I was searching around for some inspiration for a make ahead birthday brunch recipe that I could make and take with me for a little celebration on the road. I am a huge fan of brunch and I always love a recipe that is easy to transport and can be made ahead because I am a night owl which probably has a lot to do with loving brunch so much.

Sausage and Veggie Casserole by Jimmy Dean sounded like a winner to me. I knew using the basic recipe I could modify it a little for my family and it could be easily prepared in advance and transported one of two ways. You can assemble it ahead of time and bake the next morning or you could make and bake it and heat it up as needed when you are on the run. And it would go perfectly with some fresh fruit that I can pick up anywhere.

The small pyrex dishes are perfect for dividing up the recipe and making one immediately and freezing one for later. Or in my case a small dish fits perfectly in a small oven in my little trailer. You can easily transport any of these dishes in the cooler bag or in an actual cooler. And I love the fact that they fit in my teeny, tiny trailer refrigerator.

With the food part of my birthday brunch taken care of I was ready to think about the decorations. Instead of paper party goods I always opt for things I can mix and match and use more than once. And as soon as I saw these Pioneer Woman linens at Walmart I just couldn't get them out of my mind. When I finally fell in love with teal...it was over for me.

And the best part about this combination is that I can combine it with my favorite color. I ordered these and a few other things from the Pioneer Woman Collection from Walmart because it is hard to find the exact pieces in the store because they sell out fast. The tablecloth was a great price at $14 and the napkins were $10 for 8 which anyone can tell you that is a fantastic price for 8 cloth napkins. I even picked up the teal napkin set...go figure. 

And it all matches with my camping dishes! So once it is time to go I will be looking forward to a day without an alarm and a brunch on my own time while feeling the spring breeze and listening to the sweet sounds of spring.

Make Ahead And Stay In Bed!

 

Good Morning Friends,

I think my favorite meal is brunch. I have always been that way. There is just something to be said for a rush free start to any day that sounds wonderful. What I love even better is a recipe that allows you to make it ahead and enjoy it the next day on your own time. These recipes come in handy when life gets a little busy. In my family, I am kind of known for brunch and breakfast casseroles. If I am going to host anything with my extended family, I always want it to be brunch. And because of that, I am always on the hunt for a new recipe to try. In fact, I try out brunch recipes the entire year so that when Christmas comes around I am ready for Christmas brunch with the best recipes. I have always loved Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks and Recipes so I am giving this one a try with a couple of variations.

Part of my love for all things brunch is my love of dishes. I get this from my mom. I was inspired by the dishes above from Gooseberry Patch that I cannot locate. I think I might have been drawn to the colors or the market feel of the dishes. They reminded me of some of my favorite glasses I always use for brunch. These market glasses are treasured items in my kitchen from Williams Sonoma one of my favorite cooking stores.

As I was out shopping for school supplies, I found some cute dishes that were on sale at Target and I knew they would be perfect for my next brunch. Although they are not ceramic, I already have red dishes that I knew I could mix and match them with. I was able to find some other dishes while I was there and I just had to sneak them in too. Mixing and matching different patters and pieces makes me happy. Believe it or not, even in this busy life, we still set the table and we still eat together. I am thankful that I have had that experience literally my whole life.

Alright, the breakfast casserole is snuggled right there in the refrigerator and the table is all set. I am ready for brunch the night before. What a great way to wake up on a sunny Saturday morning!

Are Crack Potatoes The REAL Deal?

Plainchicken.com Crack Potato Recipe

If you are a pinner you probably have seen this recipe and wondered if the Crack Potatoes were the real deal. I wondered myself. I gave these potatoes a try after seeing it pinned a lot. I have to say that the recipe is super easy, the ingredients are simple and this can be a make ahead dish. What I love is that you can make this recipe and freeze part of it for later. I also like the fact this potato dish can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on what you serve with it. My favorite way to serve this dish is for...brunch. This is the perfect brunch recipe because you can make it ahead and spend your time on another part of your menu. This side dish is so good your family and friends will be asking for a copy. If you haven't tried this yet get those ingredients on your grocery list and get cracking! I promise, you won't be sorry!

Down Home!

For my first blog post I had to share one of my new favorite recipes! I found this recipe at Tasty Nest and I had to give it a try. Her picture above really drew me in when I saw it. And any recipe that you can prep and prepare the night before would definitely be something I was interested in. I am a night owl and early mornings are just not my thing so this recipe is just perfect for me and my family. Who would not love a recipe that is easy to prepare, you can make the night before and you can wake up to the scent of cinnamon? Well I have tried this recipe and it is the best cinnamon roll I have ever had. If you click on the link above it will take you to The Tasty Nest and her post on the best cinnamon rolls ever. So, while you are out shopping this week why not stop by WalMart and pick up some of these rolls and have this ready to go for next weekend? I swear you will not be disappointed!