Christmas Morning

This is what my family ate on Christmas morning when I was a kid.

Christmas Morning Breakfast

12 slices bread

1 pound country ground sausage (I prefer bacon), cooked and drained

1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated

2 tsp minced dry onion

6 eggs

3 1/2 cups milk

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp dry mustard

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can of milk (fill the soup can with milk)

Grease a 9 by 12 inch baking dish and set aside. Cut each slice of bread with a donut cutter (so it looks like a donut). Take remaining pieces from the cutout bread and break into pieces in the baking dish. Layer sausage or bacon over the pieces of bread, then 1 cup grated cheese. Place bread donut rings on top. In a bowl beat eggs; add milk, salt and mustard. Pour over casserole. Refrigerate over night.

In the morning mix cream of chicken soup with soup can of milk and pour over the casserole. Bake at 325 degrees for an hour. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking time.

Wassail

2 1/2 cups sugar

4 cups water

10 whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1 gallon apple cider

1 can (6 oz) frozen lemonade concentrate with water

1 can (6 oz) frozen orange juice concentrate with water

Combine sugar and 4 cups water in saucepan. Bring to a boil and add spices. Steam for an hour. Add cider and juices to dilute it. Be sure to remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves before serving. It's nice to float orange slices in it to look pretty. Serve hot.