help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

so we are hosting Christmas Eve up at our house, and have a nice group sleeping over to celebrate Noche Buena.

so basically I am hosting all night Christmas Eve and then the EVER IMPORTANT Christmas morning BREAKFAST!!!!

anyway, Christmas Eve we are so far having. please keep in mind we will be up until the wee hours (think 2-3 am)

appetizers
fried shrimp with remoulade
mixed seafood salad
bruschetta
pancetta crisps with goat cheese and fig
assorted cheeses and salumi

main:
sole stuffed with crab
roasted filet of beef
linguine with garlic and oil
roasted brussel sprouts with garlic pancetta
maple glazed butternut squash
potato, kale, and mushroom gratin??? (debating this one)

desserts
assorted christmas cookies
brownies
????? I feel like I need to make something else????
hot cocoa for the kids
hot toddy's for the adults

Christmas morning...Ideally I'd like to do the least amount of work. what can I prepare the day before and make that will be luscious and wonderful in the am.

I am thinking
cinnamon rolls (need a great recipe!)
baked french toast (also need a recipe)
my chorizo and rosemary Frittata
home fries
fruit????
mimosas (of course!)
I am having trouble with the breakfast. help me.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

you can't ever go wrong with bagels and sides for them
fruit salad
bloody marys
mix of muffins

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Holy crap. Can I sleepover too? Everything sounds delicious.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Here is a great breakfast recipe, you make it the night before:

PEACHES – N- CRÈME FRENCHTOAST

½ c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
2 TBSP corn syrup (kayro – white)
29 oz can peaches (drain and slice into pieces)
1 loaf French bread cubed (can substitute w/Italian)
8 oz Philly cream cheese, cut into small chunks
12 eggs
1 ½ c. half & half
1 tsp vanilla


In small saucepan: Melt butter, brown sugar & kayro syrup until bubbly

- Pour into greased 9 x 13” pan
- Top w/peaches
- Spread cubed bread over top
- Cream Cheese over top

Blender: combine eggs, half & half, vanilla

- Pour egg mixture over cream cheese/bread layers
- Cover & refrigerate overnight

Bake 350 degrees uncovered for 50-60 minutes

If you aren't into peaches (DH is not) - instead of peaches I put raisins on the bottom and sprinkle a little cinnamon over the bread. It is very very good and always a huge hit. I make it in a throw-away pan to make it easier. I have an egg one too,I will post it later, I don't have the recipe with me.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Can I come?

I think it all looks great. We don't really do Christmas 'breakfast' because our families eat REALLY early for Christmas dinner. So we eat at 1pm and 3pm for Christmas supper. We did a big Christmas breakfast at night though.. that was fun and we'll do it again. Kind of a late night after dinner meal.

For your breakfast I think you pretty much have it down. I might do some sides of bacon and sausage.

I'd consider making a cranberry sauce and letting people spread it on their French Toast or making crepes to put it on.

For fruit I think you can do a nice citrus salad.

And please.. don't forget the bloody Mary's!

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

I would make monkey bread for Christmas morning. Delicious and very fun for the kids.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

maybe buy some bagels, danishes and muffins for something quick and easy

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Posted by rojerono

Can I come?

Message edited 12/3/2010 12:48:25 PM.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Paula Deen has an excellent French Toast Recipe - you make it the night before and bake it in the morning

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/baked-french-toast-casserole-with-maple-syrup-recipe2/index.html

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

I love the idea of monkey bread! It's fun and you can have the little ones help prep.

Here's one recipe

I use a recipe with frozen white bread dough that I just can't seem to find. If you do that you won't need to do cinnamon rolls.

I've tried a bajillion different French toast casserole ideas and they all sound fabulous and I don't have any luck with them. The ONLY one that works for me EVERY time is a super simple one that was posted on here. I'll find it for you but basically you melt a mix of butter and brown sugar in the bottom of a casserole dish, add layers of bread slices and pour a mixture of eggs, evap milk, vanilla and sugar over the whole thing - pop it in the oven, bake and then broil with a drizzle of maple syrup. My kids LOOOVE it.

And I'm really only half kidding about coming.

Message edited 12/3/2010 2:02:37 PM.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Posted by Ophelia

Posted by rojerono

Can I come?

don't I wish!!!!

denisemarie, you can come too!

Posted by rojerono

For your breakfast I think you pretty much have it down. I might do some sides of bacon and sausage.

I'd consider making a cranberry sauce and letting people spread it on their French Toast or making crepes to put it on.

For fruit I think you can do a nice citrus salad.

And please.. don't forget the bloody Mary's!

I need recipes for the cinnamon rolls...something for a novice. I don't really do yeast breads at all. ever.

Irish, do you think I could put sliced fresh apples or pears in place of the peaches??

and is the cream cheese replaceable. I have a weird thing about cream cheese in my food.

it sounds so good though, I may just suck it up.

thanks!

I am not in the mood to do quick and easy. it's christmas I want to lavish my family with fresh baked ridiculous goodness (while punishing myself with a ton of work )

Posted by heathergirl

I would make monkey bread for Christmas morning. Delicious and very fun for the kids.

what is monkey bread??????

Message edited 12/3/2010 2:03:28 PM.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Posted by rojerono

And I'm really only half kidding about coming.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

How about a breakfast bake for Christmas morning? I usually prepare mine the night before I cook it.

Ingredients:
1 Sausage Log (use 2 of the Zesty Bob Evans) You can also use other types of meat (i.e. bacon, ham)
8 Eggs
12 Slices of bread ripped up (stale is best)
4 Cups shredded cheese (I used cheddar)
4 Cups of milk
1 Tablespoon of powdered mustard
2 Tablespoons of Worcestershire Sauce
Salt and Pepper (Few shakes of each)

The night before:
1. Cook the meat.
2. Mix in a large bowl the 8 eggs, 4 cups of mile, tablespoon of powdered mustard, 2 tablespoons of worcestershire sauce and the salt and pepper.
3. In a 9 x 13 pan layer the following: 6 ripped up slices of bread, 2 cups of cheese, 1/2 cup of meat. Repeat again, 6 ripped up slices of bread, 2 cups of cheese and the rest of the meet.
4. Pour the egg mixture on top. Cover and store in fridge.

In the morning, preheat overn to 350 degrees.
Cook the mixture for one hour.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

I got cute new pj's. Can I come?

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Your menu looks so delicious!
My parents do Christmas breakfast. For the fruit, my dad makes a fruit salad of pink grapefruit, apples, grapes, bananas, vanilla yogurt and shredded coconut. It is amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Breakfast suggestion : pepto bismol. . . .

Message edited 12/3/2010 5:43:45 PM.

Re: help me out with our christmas family pajama party!!!!!

Ophelia,

I have never swapped anything out except the peaches for the raisins, but go for it! And yes, the cream cheese is optional. I put it in, but I've had it without.