Creme Brulee French Toast

Yum! This just might be our new Christmas breakfast tradition. It's great because all of the prep is done the night before. All you have to do in the morning is stick it in the oven.

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• 1 loaf French Toast bread, homemade bread or french bread sliced about 3/4-1" thick
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half and half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

In medium saucepan melt butter, brown sugar and corn syrup stirring until smooth. Pour into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan. Remove crust from bread. Lay bread slices on top of brown sugar/butter mixture covering the bottom of the pan in one layer. Combine eggs, half and half, vanilla and salt. Pour over bread. Cover and let it sit in the refrigerator over night or for about 8 hours. In the morning preheat oven to 350. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until the edges get slightly golden. We ate ours with pureed raspberries. It was delish!

Harvest Hamburger Soup

1 lb ground beef (I used ground turkey)
1/2 onion, chopped
2 (10.5 oz) cans beef consomme (I used beef broth)
2 C. water
1 1/2 C. chopped fresh tomatoes
2 T. sugar
1 1/2 C. frozen corn
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
4 potatoes, peeled and diced
1 t. taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste (I didn't add enough so we had to add our own)

Brown beef and onion. In a large saucepan combine all ingredients and cook until veggies are tender.

*This is so easy and healthy. You could add any vegetables that sound good. I think I'll try green beans next time. I've also thought about zucchini and celery.

Rice Pudding with Leftover Rice

2 c. cooked white rice

3 c. milk

1/2 c. sugar

dash salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

dash of nutmeg (optional)

raisins (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil while stirring to prevent burning or sticking to the bottom. Bring it down to a simmer and cook until most of the milk is absorbed. (30-45 minutes depending on how absorbent your rice is.) When it is simmering you don't have to stir the entire time. Just every once in a while to prevent burning or sticking. Serve warm or cold.

Nothing Bundt Cake

I make this cake all the time and it's always a big hit! (Especially at work :)

1 pkg. Devils Food cake mix
1 pkg. instant choc. pudding (the small one)
1 C Sour Cream
4 Large eggs
1/2 C Water
1/2 C Oil
1 1/2 C Mini Chocolate Chips

Mix first six ingredients together with a beater. Add chocolate chips. Pour into a greased bundt cake pan (spray well with cooking spray).

Cook in oven at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool. (I usually take it out of the pan right away and it works fine, but you might want to let it cool).

Frosting - (I only make 1/2 this recipe and it's plenty!)

2 8 oz pkgs. cream cheese, softened
1/2 C Butter, softened
3-4 C Powdered Sugar
2 Tsp. Vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the powdered sugar. (Start with 2 cups then keep adding more until it is nice and thick. ENJOY!

P.S. You can make any kind of cake - I've done White, Yellow, Butter Pecan - anything goes! Just use a complimentary pudding flavor and you're set!

Moist Cinnamon Streusel Cake

1 (18.25 ounce) box yellow cake mix
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 cup sour cream
4 whole eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup milk

Blend cake mix and pudding. Add rest of ingredients. Beat all together until smooth.

Streusel

3/4 c. brown sugar packed

1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

3 tbsp. butter cut into pieces

dash of salt

Mix sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Add butter. Pinch together with fingers until it forms a crumble. Spread half of the batter in a greased angel food pan (I used a 9x13 baking pan.) Sprinkle half of the streusel on the batter; add remaining batter and sprinkle with the remaining streusel. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out almost clean.

Bake at 350 degrees