Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast is the best meal.  The foods that are typically eaten for breakfast are fantastic and I’m pretty sure it is ok to eat a “breakfast” meal anytime of the day.  Like breakfast, a good casserole is always a win.  First off it’s easy, secondly the leftovers are amazing.  This morning I decided to come up with a dish that would utilize some peppers that were getting old and satisfy the taste buds.  Rage on.

Ingredients

1. 6 Eggs, scrambled
2. 1/2 Red Pepper, diced
3. 2 Jalapenos, seeded and diced
4. 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
5. 1/2 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
6. 6 Sausage Links(I used honey maple but regular works)
7. 1/2 a Package of Tater Tots
8. 1/2 tsp. Salt and Pepper

Quick Directions

1. Cook sausage links till done.
2. Dice the red pepper, jalapenos, and sausage.
3. Place into a baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray or rubbed with butter.
4. Whisk eggs into a scramble with the salt and pepper.
5. Pour half of egg mixture over the sausage and peppers in pan.  Mix.
6. Sprinkle the cheeses over on top.
7. Cover cheese with tater tots, enough  to fill the top nicely.
8. Pour remaining egg mix over the top.
9. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, or until golden brown on top and eggs are no longer runny in center.
10. Enjoy!

Detailed Directions

Start off by browning the sausage links.  You want them fully cooked and normally I would say make sure they reach a temp of 165 inside, but  for this dish it is ok if they aren’t completely cooked in the middle since they will be in the oven for about an hour and should finish there.

 

While the sausage is cooking you can get the red pepper and jalapenos diced up.  Be careful with the jalapenos though.  If you like real spicy, go ahead and leave a little bit of the flesh and seeds inside but otherwise you will want to remove them.  Wear gloves if you have them, or make sure to wash your hands very well once you are done with the jalapenos.  And DO NOT touch your  eyes with that juice on your hands.

Add the diced up sausage, red peppers, and jalapenos into your baking dish.  I used a 3 quart Dutch oven but a small baking pan or casserole dish will work great.  When doing a big batch, go ahead and double the ingredients for a normal cake pan.  Also make sure to use cooking spray or grease the pan with butter.

 

Whisk the eggs and salt and pepper together.  You want a nice consistency for scrambled eggs here.  If you find yourself in a rage over something, take the anger out here.  You won’t hurt the eggs!

 

 

Pour half of the egg mixture over your sausage and  peppers and mix up.  Then sprinkle the cheese over this.

 

 

 

Now it is almost ready.  By now, you should have your oven preheating to 350.  Get the tater tots out and place a generous amount over the top of the cheese.  Nothing fancy here, just want nice coverage.

It is almost finished!  Take the rest of the eggs and dump them on top.

 

 

 

 

Toss the pan into the oven and let it cook until it is golden brown on top.  It will take a little bit, about 50-60 minutes.  To make sure the middle is done, take a spoon or fork and slightly pull the middle open and if its not runny then you are good to go.  Dish it out and enjoy.

 

 

The Weekend Fridge Cleaner

The nice thing about this dish is how versatile it is.  You can follow the simple steps listed above and easily add in other things.  Dice up an onion and toss it in with the peppers.  Bacon can be used as well, cook it and crumble it up and put it in with or in place of the sausage. Ham works just the same, chop it up and in it goes! The peppers add a delicious sweetness along with a subtle hint of heat but they aren’t for everyone, so leave them out if you want too. Mess around, find things in your fridge that are going to be tossed out soon and add them into the dish. Don’t be afraid to use regular ground up breakfast sausage instead of the links either. You are the master of your kitchen and as the man/lady in charge you can make up your own rage.