Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake

Ham, Cheese, Egg, & Potatoes

I was searching for recipes that used ham, cheese, potatoes, and eggs and really couldn't find anything. Some used ham and potatoes, some used ham and eggs; not potatoes and eggs all at once. So, I decided to come up with something myself.

I'll admit that there is probably a recipe similar to this out there, but I couldn't find it.

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese (this is approximate...you could use more or less)
• 2 Whole Eggs
• 2 Egg Whites
• Dash of Milk
• 8 oz. Package of diced ham
• 3-5 Potatoes (diced and cooked...not fully cooked, but just cooked, like for potato salad)

Directions:

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Spray an 8x11" baking dish with cooking spray

Building the Dish:

1. Put potatoes in bottom of baking dish
2. Spread ham over top of potatoes
3. Sprinkle a light layer of cheese over that.
4. In a separate bowl, scramble together eggs, egg whites, and milk. Add pepper, if desired.
5. Pour evenly over potatoes, cheese, and ham.
6. Top with more cheese.

Baking:

1. Cover top with aluminum foil
2. Bake covered for 30 minutes
3. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes
4. Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
5. Slice and enjoy!
6. Makes about 8 servings.

I made this on Sunday, but waited to post the recipe because I wanted to see how well this dish reheated in the microwave. I have to say that it didn't taste any different than it did freshly baked. I heated it for 1 minute and it was heated through and still very tasty!

Trying It Out-Breakfast Burritos

A friend of mine referred me to a recipe at Southern Plate for Make Ahead Breakfast Burritos. It sounded good, but I was skeptical because I have never had a breakfast burrito...

I tried this recipe yesterday, but made some changes... I was working with what I had on hand.

• 7 large soft taco shells (not as big as burrito)
• 3 whole eggs
• 4 egg whites
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 package turkey bacon (or as Boo calls it, Fake-on)
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Here are some images of my process:

Egg, bacon, mushroom mixture

Then, building the burrito:

And, my finished burritos... I ran out of foil.

Let me say, these things were great! I'm almost tempted to buy whole wheat tortillas to make them even healthier... I'd have to leave the mushrooms out in order to get Bob to eat them.

Breakfast Ideas!

I'm am finding, as I get older, that I cannot eat sweet stuff for breakfast. I'm probably pre-diabetic. So, cereal, Pop-Tarts, Toaster Streudel, and all those other sweet things you can eat for breakfast need to be cut out of my diet.

So, I went in search of things I can make and reheat in the mornings:

Cheesy Ham and Hash brown Casserole was one of the first things I thought of, and I found a great recipe on Allrecipes.com (this could also be used for dinner!). The only problem is that it's not really a heat-and-go food. Meaning, I'd have to sit down with a fork and eat it. It's kinda hard to drive that way. Mondays and Wednesdays, I have to leave early for classes, I don't have time to do that.

Jimmy dean has a recipe using their Sausage Crumbles (which I'm sure you could make this recipe using any cooked and crumbled sausage) called Sausage and Egg Breakfast Cups which sound really simple and tasty!

I also found a Bacon Cheese Muffin recipe at Allrecipes.com. I imagine this one could be made using real bacon bits, instead of having to cook your own bacon (& bacon bits are cheaper and don't have as much fat attached to them).

Here's a recipe using crescent rolls at Cooks.com: Sausage Popovers

Loving the Little Things posted a recipe for bacon and cheese popovers, sounds really good! I couldn't see the images, though.

So, I think I have my arsenal ready... lots of different ideas for sugar-free breakfast, without trying to substitute the sugar in something.

Trying It Out- Oatmeal Muffins

I went in search of a really "breakfasty" muffin. I needed something I could grab and eat in the car. But not something totally unhealthy (like an Otis Spunkmyer muffin, or a handful of cookies).

I found a basic Oatmeal Muffin recipe at Allrecipes.com and doctored it:

Coffee Cake Oatmeal Muffins

Muffin ingredients:

• 1/2 C milk
• 1/2 C water
• 1 C quick-cooking oats
• 1/4 C packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 C vegetable oil
• 1 C flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Topping ingredients:

• 1 C packed brown sugar
• 1/2 C flour
• 1/4 C butter or margarine
• 1/2 C quick-cooking oats

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a muffin pan or use baking cups. (12 muffins)
2. Mix together milk, water, and oats. Let soak for 15 minutes.
3. Mix together brown sugar, egg, and vegetable oil. Add oat mixture and blend well.
4. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add to wet ingredients until well mixed.
5. Fill 12 muffin cups with this mixture and set aside.
6. Mix together flour and sugar (from topping ingredients). Cut in butter or margarine until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add oats and blend well.
7. Divide topping evenly over all 12 muffins.
8. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Mine turned out a little dark, but that's easily rectified by cutting back how long you bake. I baked mine for 20 minutes.

I found these oatmeal muffins to be very bland, even with the topping. I started eating the tops first, then barely finishing the muffin itself. Honestly, I ended up throwing two away because no one else wanted to eat them. The blandness could probably be fixed by using more sugar, or adding cinnamon or something...

So, I tried again, this time adding more flavor to the muffins...

Strawberry-Banana (or whatever flavor you choose) Muffins
(In parentheses is what I used)

• 1 cup milk (skim, lactose-free)
• 3 packets instant oatmeal (1 strawberry, 2 banana, Quaker) [you can probably add a 4th packet for more flavor]
• 1 egg (large)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil (canola)
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees, grease or line 12-muffin baking pan.
2. Mix oatmeal and milk together. Add egg (slightly beaten), sugar, and vegetable oil.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together flour and baking powder.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well.
5. Divide batter among 12-muffin pan.
6. Bake for 16-20 minutes (18)

I skipped the salt in this recipe because there is salt in instant oatmeal, I believe.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can choose the flavor by using different flavors of instant oatmeal, and there are a lot of flavors to choose from! And, you don't have to soak your oatmeal for 15 minutes.

Believe it or not, these aren't too sweet and lightly flavored. They are very good, though! I won't get a sugar rush eating them, lol! And we may actually eat all 12 of them this  time!

The next thing to try is a cheesy muffin with either bacon or sausage in it... preferably an 'eggy' muffin, like a pop-over...