Triple-Berry French Toast Casserole

Every time I make this, I remember that it is actually easier than most breakfasts.  And even though the word "sugar" pops up many times in this recipe, I think it's probably healthier than regular French toast with syrup.  

First of all, it's baked instead of butter-fried on a griddle (which is how I make regular French toast).  It's got whole lot of whole berries--healthy, right?  And after we dust it with powdered sugar at the end, we don't add whipped cream or syrup or anything else--it's good with just a light sprinkle.  

Caveat: I let everyone dust their own, because it's so fun to use the powdered sugar wand . . . and they don't understand the word "lightly"--so maybe only my French toast feels slightly-healthier-than-regular-French-toast.

Maybe I am just justifying how often I want to make this breakfast, because no matter how you slice it (but you should slice it into 1-inch cubes), it's DELICIOUS.  And if you make more than one pan, it's an easy way to feed all your company.

Indian Vegetable Rice [InstantPot]

This is one of my favorite recipes for many reasons:

1. It is so yummy that it can be eaten as a main dish, but it easily doubles as a side dish
2. InstantPot.  It is quick and easy.
3. I usually have all these ingredients on hand--make your own chicken stock every time you get a rotisserie chicken, and you will, too!
4. My meat-loving husband never asks, "Where's the meat?" in this dish, because the stock makes it so hearty and flavorful.  Chicken stock means that it's technically not a vegetarian dish, but it's one of the few vegetable-rich entrees that Allen loves.
5. Buuuuuut if you reeeeeeally want to, you can easily add some cooked shrimp or chicken at the end. 

Gingerbread House Mortar

Best possible recipe for holding together your Christmas time creations.

Those windows are made out of a sliced
3 Musketeers candy bar . . . the only good use for
said candy bar, in my opinion . . .

Here is a HOT TIP I got from my sweet sister Hanna: save unwanted Halloween candy for making gingerbread houses.  It only costs you the miles you put on your sneakers on Halloween night.  Since 2012 is the year our family SHATTERED our former candy record (we got 603 pieces of candy total!), we had a ton of candy to work with.  And you can mold Laffy Taffy and Tootsie Rolls into anything.

Leftover Halloween candy for decorating . . .

I assemble all the houses (just with graham crackers) while my kids are at school, and then we decorate them when they get home, usually on a Monday for Family Home Evening. This stuff only takes about 10 minutes to dry and harden.

Our 2010 creations

Our 2012 creations

2016

2020

2021

 

My best friend Cori's beautiful creation--
she used licroice to make the "bricks"
Check out Cori's delicious recipes on this site.

My pink and purpaliscious g-bread house.