Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Bake...Baby It's Cold Outside

Well our morning temperatures have definitely dropped as of late.  It's just a tad bit chilly when we wake up now.  Still no snow yet though, just crisp fall air which is perfectly okay with me at this point.  I'm not quite ready to pull out every parka, coat, scarf, hat and gloves quite yet.  Although, I have already started wearing a few of my pashmina scarves that I love so much (don't ask how many colors of them I have), because I am fashionable like that.

A few weeks ago when we were entertaining family, I decided to have a send off Sunday brunch for my sister-in-law and her husband.  In planning the menu I really wanted to do biscuits and gravy but they can really get heavy sometimes.  I decided to make a breakfast bake instead with the same ingredients, only cutting up biscuits into quarters.  This way it is much more portioned control and health conscious for those of us watching our figure...well, that's the story I was trying to convince myself of anyway.  

WOW!!  This dish was awesome.  My husband went back for seconds and thirds.  The bake was gone in a blink, before I could even get a photo of it.  So, as luck would have it, I made another batch of it the next week, so I could get photos and it was still a huge hit with the family!  If you have upcoming holiday company in the near future, I highly recommend this one for breakfast.

Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Bake

2 (12 ounce) packages Jimmy Dean Reduced Fat Sausage

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 to 4 cups whole milk

1/2 to 1 teaspoon Lawry's season salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 (12 ounce) container Pillsbury Grands Jr. Biscuits (10 count)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9x13 glass baking dish

with non-stick spray inside (bottom and sides).

If you have a cast iron skillet, I recommend using that

to make the sausage gravy.

Brown sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink.

Reduce the heat to medium-low.  Sprinkle half the flour and stir so

that sausage soaks it all up, then add more a little at a time.

Stir around again and pour in the milk, stirring constantly.

Cook the gravy, stirring frequently until it thickens (up to 15 minutes).

Sprinkle in the seasoned salt and pepper and continue cooking.

If it gets too thick, add 1/2 cup milk at a time, if needed.

While the sausage gravy simmers, cut the biscuits into

quarters and spread around baking dish.

Pour the sausage gravy over the biscuits and stir well, 

to make sure all the biscuits are coated and evenly distributed.

Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes,

until biscuits are cooked through and lightly browned.

Remove from oven and serve immediately.

One Year Ago:  Creamy Artichoke Bruschetta
Two Years Ago:  Cherry Cheesecake Brownies

Honey Ham Biscuit Sliders - Wife Of The Year

This morning I won the "Wife of the Year" Award.  Well, actually it was self-awarded, but I'm sure many would agree with me.

Today was the first golf tournament of the season - yeah !!!!  I get my mornings back to myself again...pajamas, coffee time, food episodes, reading magazines, blogging, manicure, pedicure...ah, the life of a golf widow.

However, the weather was 30 degrees with a chance of rain and snow.  Tournament still on, husband bundled up and ready to go.  Tee time set for 9:20 am.  However he realizes that he never had a chance to buy his "winter" golf gloves before the tournament.  Slight issue...sports stores don't open until 9:00 am., and there is no way he will have time to drive out, purchase gloves and make his tee time, in time.

"Honey, will you please run out and buy the winter gloves for me and hand warmers and drop them off a the clubhouse before my starting time?"  This was all asked as I was in my pajamas, just put the recliner in "lounge position" and topped my coffee off with my own warmer.  I'm not going to say what went though my mind at that point (because he also reads this blog...)

The only saving grace he had was that I also needed to do the weekly dinner menu grocery shopping and needed to get out eventually...just wasn't planning on that early.

Needless to say, he made it through 13 holes,
and then this happened.

For those chilly tournament mornings, these are the best little breakfast sandwiches.

Honey Ham Biscuit Sliders
Courtesy of  plainchicken.com

1 can Grands Jr Butter Tasting Biscuits (10 count)
1/2 lb deli ham, shaved
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
1/4 cup honey mustard dressing
1 Tbsp butter, melted
2 Tbsp honey
Preheat oven to 400.

Lightly spray a 9-inch pan with cooking spray.  Set aside.

Separate each biscuits into two layers.  Spread each layer with honey mustard and top with swiss cheese.  Place half of the biscuits, cheese side up, in the bottom of prepared pan.  Top with ham.  Top ham with remaining biscuits, cheese side down.  Brush biscuit tops with melted butter.

Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden brown.  Heat honey in microwave for 20 seconds.  Brush biscuit tops with warm honey.  Serve immediately.

Ham & Cheese Biscuit Bake - Breakfast for Champions

Good news was there was no volleyball tournament this weekend, so we got a little break...yeah, sure we did!!!  Our weekend was crazy busy, once again.  Oh how I long for a "Sea Day".  My friend Annie and her sister coined the phrase "Sea Day".  This is a day where you pretend you are at sea, don't leave your pajamas, watch movies all day and snack to your heart's desire.  I will keep thinking positive thoughts...someday...Sea Day.

Lots of things to do and not much time.  Clean house, grocery shop, bathe the very stinky dogs at our favorite self service dog wash Paws 2 Groom, prep for Super Bowl party meal and get ready for the upcoming week.  Of course, our plan was to do a lot of bbq and using the smoker on Sunday and what does Mother Nature do...she dumps over a foot of snow the night before.

Our teenagers contributed by making the touchdown cupcake platter.

We had great ambitions during Super Bowl for our guests Heather and Matt.  Heather is a phenomenal stylist and Matt is a computer guru.  Heather was kind enough to come over and beautify all our hair and Matt cleaned up our laptop, the trade was a full evening of Super Bowl Foods.

All of this needed a good start to the day with a hearty breakfast I found on Pinterest - Ham & Cheese Biscuit Bake.

Ham and Cheese Biscuit Bake
Courtesy of plainchicken.com

1 can Grands Jr. flaky biscuits (10 biscuits) 8 oz diced ham 1 cup grated swiss or cheddar cheese 2 tbsp honey mustard dressing 3 eggs 2/3 cup heavy cream 2 Tbsp grated parmesan cheese Preheat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray. Separate biscuits and cut into quarters. Place biscuits in bottom of pan. Top with ham and swiss cheese. Whisk together eggs, honey mustard and heavy cream.  Pour over biscuits. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Birthday Party - Chapter 2 - Pasta Bar and Garlic Knots

...and the birthday party continues....

My sister-in-law always tells me that when she dies, she wants to come back as one of my kids.  The party never stops and they are quite pampered....Guilty as charged!  I think I get more enjoyment out of spoiling than they do receiving....

After our eventful afternoon of appetizers, painting pottery and cupcakes I had to prepare for dinner and a sleepover of 8 teenagers.  It's no wonder my husband asked if he could check into the Holiday Inn that night - I told him only if I can escape and come with him.

The girls were great and it was a successful night.  I did a pasta bar set up for all of them.  3 different sauces:  Alfredo, Pesto and Marinara....Penne Pasta and sides of meatballs and grilled chicken.

To mop up all the sauces I made our addicting Garlic Knots, which is really aren't knots, but more like an Italian Monkey Bread.  This recipe ended up on someones Facebook page a few years ago and my daughter shared it with me because my hips and thighs are not big enough already.....

I love the versatility of this bread because you can add so many different herbs and spices to it and have it compliment any meal.

Garlic Knots

(1) Can Pillsbury Refrigerated Grands Biscuits
1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 cloves of garlic, minced

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Put the cold 1/2 stick of butter into (a non-stick sprayed) bundt pan and let it melt in the preheated oven.

While the butter is melting, cut the Grands biscuits into quarters.  In a bowl, toss the biscuit pieces, garlic and Parmesan cheese together.

Once the butter is melted, add the biscuit mixture, sprinkling with any cheese and garlic that gets left behind in the bowl.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-22 minutes until biscuits are cooked through and top is lightly golden.  Let cool on rack for approximately 5 minutes.  Put a platter on top of bundt pan and invert it.  Remove bundt pan and serve on platter.