~Strawberry French Toast and A Cookbook Winner~

I'm sharing another one of my cookbook recipes with you today.  I started making Strawberry French Toast for our B&B guests after it became an instant hit with my family.   It's one of those dishes that you prepare the night before and then all you have to do is stick it in the oven in the morning!  Those types of dishes work really well for me as I'm not really a morning person.  What?  Yeah, hard to believe, huh?  A non-morning person getting up at the crack of dawn to prepare a gourmet breakfast for B&B guests.  It was definitely God working in me to be able to do that and, I must say, it brought me great joy.

 This is one easy-peasy recipe but it is so yummy!  It's pretty self-explanatory so I won't bore you with more details.  Though I haven't tried it, I'm sure any type of berry could be used.  And the recipe could easily be cut in half if necessary....but who would want to? lol

And I have a really scientific method for choosing the winner of my Breakfast & Brunch Cookbook.  You'll be impressed ;)  I haven't figured out how to number my comments (someone help me?) and I don't have that random generator thingy downloaded either, so I just had my hubby, Mr. Bill, choose a number and I had him verify his choice...

Impressive, huh?  Thank goodness there weren't a hundred jillion comments and I only had to count down to #11.  I found that it belongs to Kerin, one of my dear blogging friends, from Always Fixin', Never Sittin'.  Kerin said..."I'd have to say, I'm both a baker and a cook.  I love to do both, and do both on a regular basis.  Nothing like a home cooked meal!"
Congratulations, Kerin!  I'll send you an email so that I can get your mailing address.
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Thank you for all of those who entered.  If, by chance, you would like to purchase one of my cookbooks, you can do so at the My Store page on this blog.

 



 It's a beautiful day today.  I pray that you are able to find a little beauty in your day as well~

 

~Breakfast at Suppertime and a Cookbook Giveaway~

When my three children were growing up, having a full-fledge breakfast at suppertime was a common occurrence.  Instead of cereal, oatmeal, Eggo waffles, or scrambled eggs and toast that were boring familiar meals the kids received during the week, I could prepare more dishes that took a little more time and effort to prepare.  Plus, it was a nice alternative to our normal evening fares usually found at the dining table.

I don't know why, but over the last few years, I haven't been preparing those "breakfast at suppertime" meals.  Maybe because it's just the two of us now or maybe just because I've gotten lax with my meal preparations and have gotten stuck in a rut.  Probably more of the latter, I think. :)

Anyway, last week, I had a hankerin' (does anyone use that phrase anymore?)...I had a hankerin' for a good ol' breakfast type meal.  So, I pulled out a cookbook that is chock full of breakfast and brunch recipes.

Yes, that's a picture of our home as you come up the drive.

Oh look!  Does the title look familiar..."country road"??  Yep, I put together this cookbook several years ago when I operated a bed and breakfast in our new home.  More about that in a bit, but let's get to the food!!

 

One recipe that I used quite often for our guests is the "Sausage Brunch Casserole".  It's easy, it's filling and, more importantly, it's yummy!!  I was really tired when I made this last week and forgot to take pictures!!  But I did have a picture that I had clipped out of the original magazine taped next to the recipe.  I'm a visual kind of person.

 

You will need these ingredients:

Pork sausage

Green onions

Mushroom stems and pieces

Tomatoes

Mozzarella Cheese

Pancake mix (Bisquick works)

Eggs

Milk

Dried oregano

Salt

Pepper

 

I created this recipe for you to use and follow.  This dish really is simple to put together and makes quite a large amount.  I usually cut it in half and it easily serves 2 to 4 people.

 

I wanted a side dish of some sort but didn't want to make a quick bread or anything like that.  So, I found a recipe for a quick, light and easy apple crisp that was originally designed for two little ramekin type dishes.  Well, that wasn't going to be enough.  Seriously!! 

I revamped the recipe a bit by adding a nice, juicy pear and then tripling the crumbly topping.  And then I added a bit more butter and sugar.  Hehe.  I laugh because I'm not one to mess with recipes too much.  My kids give me a hard time about it and then my daughter-in-love made a good observation.  I am more of a baker rather than a cooker, which is true.  I love to cook but I'd MUCH rather bake.  It does require precise ingredients whereas cooking has more room to experiment.  Which are you...baker or cooker?

Just enough crunch and flavor to satisfy your sweet tooth without all the added calories.  I did remember to take a picture as an afterthought...before it was all gone!!

 

The ingredients for the Apple-Pear Crisp are:

Tart apples

Pear

Sugar

Quick-cooking oats (I only had old-fashioned)

All-purpose Flour

Brown sugar

Pecans (optional)

Butter

Vanilla extract

Cinnamon

Here's a printable recipe of my revamped version of the Apple Crisp I found in a different cookbook.  NOTE:  This recipe is NOT included in my Breakfast & Brunch cookbook.  Sorry :/

Okay, back to the cookbook.  When I started our bed and breakfast, I came across the idea to create a cookbook for our guests so that they could have a remembrance of staying here and also to have the recipes of dishes that I made for them (they always came from the cookbook).

 When designing I love to collect recipes and went through hundreds of them looking, specifically, for those related to breakfast and brunch.  I also asked for recipes from family members.

 Many of them are my favorites and family recipes that I have used throughout our marriage.  The Apple Pull Apart Bread shown above is one of them.  I shared that recipe with you not too long ago.

The Sunday Brunch Casserole is another go-to recipe that I prepared for our guests.

I had several hundred books published and managed to sell most of them before making the decision to close our beloved bed and breakfast due to my health issues.  But I still have several books that I am wanting to sell...no need to keep them all to myself.  But, first, I am wanting to give one away!!

Yes, I am having a cookbook giveaway!!  As if you didn't already know that by the title of this post...lol.  All you have to do is answer the question I posted earlier...are you a baker or a cooker?  Do you prefer to bake things like bread, brownies, cookies, pies and such or do you prefer to cook casseroles, soups, meats and veggies?  That's it!  If you're neither, then pass this giveaway on to others who would love the chance to win one of my cookbooks.  The giveaway will be open through November 15th.

Please be sure that I have your email address so that I can contact you.  The winner will be announced the following day and I would like to have this cookbook sent out right away.  Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday!  Can you belive it's almost here?  Goodness.

I pray you are having a wonderful start to your week ~

p.s.  I'll be sharing with you in a couple of days as to how you can purchase the cookbook ;)

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