Strawberry Cream Cheese Braid

What you need:
 An 8 ounce package of cream cheese
 1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar
 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
bread dough that equals one loaf (you can use frozen dough thawed or make your own)  I used the Milk and Honey Recipe on my breads page.
About 1/4 cup granulated white sugar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Desired amount of strawberries (about 8 to 10) washed and sliced


What to do:
 1. Thaw bread dough(Rhodes dough or something similar) completely or make recipe of bread dough.
2. On lightly floured surface, roll out bread dough into large rectangle.  I did mine a little smaller                       than an average sized cookie sheet.
3. Let cream cheese soften to room temperature or soften in microwave, mix with powdered sugar and vanilla til creamy.

4. Spread cream cheese mixture into a rectangle in the center of dough (see pictures below).
5. Spread desired amount of washed, dried and sliced strawberries.
6. Sprinkle with aprox. 2 table spoons of powdered sugar as shown below and sprinkle strawberries and dough with the cinnamon sugar mixture.

7. Cut pizza dough (I used my kitchen scissors) in about 1 inch strips.  I left a bigger piece at both ends and just folded toward center ingredients before I started alternating individual strips.
8. Alternate folding dough strips over ingredients
9. You now have a beautiful strawberry cream cheese braid!  Brush with melted butter and sprinkle top with cinnamon sugar mixture.
10. Put on cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees for about   20 minutes or until golden brown.I think this would be great with a can of apple pie filling or blueberry filling and cream cheese mixture as well.  I'll let you know when I try it.  Enjoy!  My friend Debbie was going to make this and top it with a powdered sugar glaze, which sounds delicious.  I'll let you know how it turns out. . .

Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

What you need:

1. 7 to 9 eggs

2. 1 cup milk

3. 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheese

4. 1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked ham, sausage, or bacon bits

5. 8 frozen hash brown patties

6. 1/2 teaspoon salt

7. 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

What to do:

1. Place hash browns in single layer in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.

2. Sprinkle with either ham, sausage, or bacon and cheese.

I used sausage patties that I heated in the microwave and cut up into bite size pieces

3. In a bowl, beat eggs, milk, salt and ground mustard together.

4. Pour over hash brown, meat and cheese.

5. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

6. Uncover and bake for about 15 minutes longer or until edges are golden brown.

This is great to make for a gathering, holidays or special occasion brunch.  It is super easy and can be done a day ahead.  Just keep refrigerated until you are ready to pop it in the oven.  We make this over and over when the whole family is together.  This is great using ham, sausage or bacon bits, just use what you have on hand.  It cuts and serves really clean.  I think you're gonna like this!

Cheddar Bacon Pull Apart

What you need:

1 Egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 can Pillsbury Grand biscuits or 2 small cans biscuits

1/3 cup precooked bacon bits

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup finely chopped green onion

What to do:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Spray 11 x 7 or 12 x 8 glass baking dish with cooking spray.

3. In medium bowl, mix egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth. 

4. Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each into quarters

   (if using Grands) or cut in half (if using small pkg biscuits). 

5. Gently dip biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly.

    Then place in large bowl.

6. Fold in bacon, cheese and onions. Spoon mixture into 

    sprayed baking dish; arrange biscuit pieces in single layer.

7. Bake at 350° for 23 to 28 minutes or until golden brown.     

8. Gather round, pull apart and enjoy!  This is best when warm

    right after removing from the oven.  

  This is super easy to make.  It makes a good breakfast food or side dish with a spinach salad or some other favorite salad.

               This recipe was found on pillsbury.com the original recipe was created by Terri Barton of Salt Lake City, Utah.