July 2021 – Simply Made Kitchen and Crafts

Our local library hosted a book sale this weekend. We love books so we headed to the library bright and early on Saturday morning. Before heading out, I popped this egg bake in the oven as my garden was full of fresh veggies and herbs. Served alongside fresh fruit, this is a great light summer breakfast item that is sure to please the entire family.

Veggie Egg Bake

6 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped finely
3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
salt & pepper, to taste

Grease an 11×7” baking pan with cooking spray.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Crack eggs into a large mixing bowl. Add milk and whisk well. Add onion and bell peppers, tomatoes, and salt and pepper and stir to combine.
Add mixture to casserole pan; sprinkle dill and cheese evenly over top.
Bake for 30-40 mins or until cooked all the way through.
Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.

I visited a local blueberry farm this weekend. The large, flavorful berries were so irresistible, I bought far more than I needed. I gave some to my girls and froze a bunch for blueberry pie. Using one of my favorite cookbooks, I’ve adapted a blueberry recipe that I found for a delicious breakfast casserole. Be sure to assemble the casserole base the night before your breakfast. When you wake in the morning, just add the toppings and pop in the oven. Delicious!

Blueberry French Toast Casserole

1 loaf stale bread or buns, sliced
2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
6 large eggs
4 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 cups milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon butter extract

STREUSEL TOPPING
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
4 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed
3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

Grease a 9×13 inch pan with nonstick spray. Line prepared baking pan with bread, filling all the cracks. Set aside.
Whisk the eggs, milk, sugar, and extracts together until well combined. Pour over the bread. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Remove pan from the refrigerator. Sprinkle blueberries evenly over the top.
Prepare the topping: Combine the brown sugar and flour together in a medium bowl. Cut in the cubed butter with a pastry blender or your fingers. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the soaked bread. Top with walnuts.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until slightly firm and golden brown on top.