Brunch & Cookies

Well the Cookie Swap was so much fun!!  So let me run it down for ya…  We went with a brunch theme which was fun to do it in the a.m. instead of the afternoon.  I must say it was a little nerve racking with a quick lead time in morning but everything got done!  WHEW!
So first let me tell ya the menu:

Individual Egg Casseroles	Creamy Dreamy Grits
Sausage Pinwheels	Baked Apples
Yogurt Marmalade Cake

For the egg casseroles, I did a combo of recipes.  I used a mini loaf pan to make 8 individual loaves.  I started with challah bread and broke into pieces and put in the pan.  Chopped up some ham and sprinkled on top of the bread.  In a separate bowl, mix 10 eggs with 1/2 cup of milk, salt & pepper, and shredded cheese.  Pour over bread / ham mixture.  I made this the night before and baked off the next morning.  These puffed up real pretty and loved the whole individual servings!
Creamy dreamy grits = lots of whole milk, butter & salt / pepper.  We just used instant grits and they are super yummy!
Sausage Pinwheels are a family staple item.  It’s another good one to make the night before.  Roll out 2 cans of crescent rolls and press all seams together.  Scramble sausage and drain.  Add 1 pkg of cream cheese to warm sausage and mix well.  Spread cream cheese sausage mixture over crescent rolls and then roll like cinnamon rolls.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate.  In the a.m. slice roll and place each piece on cookie sheet.  Bake @ 350 for 20-30 minutes – until golden brown.
Baked apples are also a family recipe – Peel, core and slice  6 medium size Granny Smith apples.  Soak in salt water overnight.  In the morning drain apples, place in casserole dish.  In a separate bowl add 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/3 cup melted butter, 2 tbsp cinnamon.  Spread mixture over apples and bake 45-50 minutes @ 350.
For the Yogurt Marmalade Cake, I used Pioneer Woman’s recipe – she explains much better than I ever could right here.
I would highly recommend the idea of a brunch cookie swap – it’s a great way have a get together but it doesn’t interfere with the busy afternoon / evenings of the Holiday season!  Definitely go with as many make the night before recipes you can come up with – it helps out a lot! 
So after brunch it was time to SWAP – We had some delish cookies!  Check ‘em out!

       Melt in Your Mouth Sugar Cookies                              Butter Pecan
 
       Chocolate Oatmeal – No Bakes                             Aunt Pine’s Gingersnaps

Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints

 
I had Joe get me some to-go boxes (from Restaurant Depot) that worked perfect for packaging the cookies separately so our Butter Pecan cookies wouldn’t start tasting like Gingersnaps.  I just hate it when that that happens!  I also had a little parting party gift = a cookie spatula.

If you don’t have one of these yet – you must get one!  They are the best for cookies – it’s a thin metal spatula that slides right under your cookie and doesn’t smush your cookies up when they’re hot! 
So that’s a run down on our first Holiday hosting event.  What Holiday events do you have going on?  I’ve go to do some research for two different hors d'œuvre party coming up next weekend!  Don’t ya just love the Holidays!!