Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Cinnamon is a good pantry budget item to have on hand, if you shop around for the right deal. I get a 10.7 ounce  jar of cinnamon at Costco for a mere $2.50. Instead of buying flavored coffees, I put cinnamon in my coffee grounds. When I am looking for something inexpensive to bake, (also using my 25 pound bag of flour for $6), I look for something that involves cinnamon. We have a play date here today, and I made this delicious cinnamon swirl bread – - moist and perfectly marbled with cinnamon sugar. Now,  I just have to keep my hands off the loaf until play time.

Cinnamon Swirl Bread

Allrecipes.com, Submitted by bettina

• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan. In a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup sugar and 2 teaspoons cinnamon; set aside.
In large bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and remaining 1 cup sugar. Combine egg, milk, and oil; add to flour mixture. Stir until just moistened.
Pour half of the batter into pan. Sprinkle with half the reserved cinnamon/sugar mixture. Repeat with remaining batter and cinnamon/sugar mixture. Draw a knife through batter to marble.
Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap in foil and let sit overnight before slicing.

Overnight Casserole – Blueberry Sausage Pancake Bake

Here is a yummy and different breakfast casserole recipe. Got to get back to Christmas preparations. Merry Christmas!

Blueberry Sausage Breakfast

Recipe by, That’s My Home

3/4 pound pork sausage
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
8 ounces sour cream
1 cup blueberries
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Day before: Cook sausage and drain well. Stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

In large mixing bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add sugars and beat until well-blended.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.

Alternate adding flour mixture and sour cream to creamed ingredients; mix well.

Fold in sausage and berries.

Pour batter into ungreased 13″x9″x2″ baking pan. Sprinkle pecans on top. Refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Bake 35-40 minutes, until done. Cool on wire rack.

Overnight French Toast Breakfast Casserole

I pride myself on planning. Part of the reason I have to plan is because I am scatter-brained, and it is the only way I keep things straight. So between planning and talking to myself out loud, I am one efficient girl. The invention of the hands-free earpiece helps me look at little less crazy, as passers-by might mistake my one-on-one conversation with myself as a two-way. In any case, there is a method to my apparent madness. It works.

I really enjoy hosting the holidays, but in order to keep everything running like clock-work there has to be a plan. Christmas morning is show-time, so special attention is in order. The night before I make both an overnight French toast casserole, and one with egg and breakfast meat. Even before the kids come down the stairs we push “go” on the coffee and preheat the oven. Overnight casseroles usually take an hour to cook, followed by a little resting time. I am posting a lower-calorie French toast casserole, but I am still in search for the perfect egg casserole. If you have any favorites, please share a link in the “Comment” section.

Overnight Caramel French Toast Casserole

Cooking Light

1  cup  packed light brown sugar
1/2  cup  light-colored corn syrup
1/4  cup  butter
Cooking spray
10  (1-ounce) slices French bread (soft bread such as Pepperidge Farm)
2 1/2  cups  1% low-fat milk
1  tablespoon  all-purpose flour
1 1/2  teaspoons  vanilla extract
1/4  teaspoon  salt
2  large eggs
2  tablespoons  granulated sugar
1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until mixture is bubbly, stirring constantly. Pour mixture evenly into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Arrange bread slices in a single layer over syrup in dish.

Combine milk and next 4 ingredients (through eggs) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Pour egg mixture over bread slices. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Combine 2 tablespoons granulated sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over bread.

Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until golden. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.