Saving time = saving money. Whenever you can skip a step while still cooking at home, you will end up saving money. For me this comes in the simple steps of always having water waiting to be brewed in the coffee pot, using my crockpot, or pre-filling pots with water on nights when we’ll have pasta. Freezer meals and dishes you can make the night before also keep the “what should we have for dinner?” munchies at bay. At Christmas, I have 3 go-to dishes that I regularly make the night before to save time and save money.
Egg Casserole: This recipe is a family favorite. You can use your favorite cheeses, breads, & breakfasts meats to customize it for your own tastes. Or even punch it up with salsa or hot sauce if you’re feeling frisky. Make it the night before, cover tightly, and refrigerate. On Christmas morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for approximately 45 minutes (or until it just begins to brown). Find the recipe here.
Holiday Apple Cranberry French Toast: This is one of my personal favorites. I could devour the entire pan on my own. With the delicious sweetness of the apples & cranberries, you don’t even need syrup. You could add nuts or top with a dusting of powdered sugar for just a bit more holiday cheer. Make this dish the night before (or even 24 hours ahead of time), cover tightly & refrigerate. Bake at 375 on Christmas morning for ~ 45 minutes or until the bread begins to brown. Check out the recipe here.
Holiday Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole: Whether you’re serving a ham or breakfast dishes or snacking on leftovers later in the day, this recipe is so versatile. Plus it makes a large amount of yumminess so there’s plenty to share. The oddest ingredient in the mix is cream of chicken soup. While it seems odd, it sets it apart from other cheesy potato recipes. Mix it up the night before and refrigerate. Bake it the morning at 350 degrees for 1 hour. You can view the entire recipe here.
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[…] is a tried and true recipe in our family that I make nearly every holiday,” says Cherie Lowe of […]