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What Is a Christmas Casserole?
A Christmas casserole is a traditional food that is enjoyed by many families at Christmastime. Some Christmas casseroles are eaten on Christmas morning and are prepared the night before so that the only thing the cooks have to do is pop them into their ovens in the morning as they prepare for the day’s activities. Other Christmas casseroles are eaten for brunch or as part of Christmas dinners. Typically, Christmas casseroles are made with eggs, sausage, bread and cheese.
One of many people's favorite pastimes at Christmas is baking with family members. Homemade casseroles are the basis of many fond holiday memories. Christmas casseroles have become a tradition for many households. Some of the ingredients can vary depending on local tastes, but the commonality is the tradition of cooking and sharing a favorite meal with friends and family members.
Christmas morning can be a busy time, especially for households that have lots of children. Having breakfast ready to go or cooking while the family opens presents can be a good idea. Popular Christmas casserole dishes for breakfast include eggs, sausage, toasted and cubed bread, milk and cheddar cheese. Usually, a Christmas breakfast casserole starts with a layer of bread on the bottom of a baking dish, followed by the sausage, then shredded cheese and a mixture of eggs, milk and seasonings.
Brunch Christmas casseroles are similar to breakfast casseroles but can include bacon or ham, onions, broccoli and mushrooms. Cream of mushroom soup and cream of broccoli soup are also excellent additions. Any brunch casserole recipe that goes well with champagne, orange juice or other brunch foods is suitable.
Christmas dinner might include a Christmas casserole that is entirely made of vegetables, such as a customary green bean casserole, or it might be a macaroni and cheese casserole dressed up with Gruyère, fontina and Parmesan cheeses. A popular dinnertime casserole at Christmas is a sweet potato casserole. Adding chopped walnuts to the sweet potato casserole gives it an added healthy crunch.
Additional healthy variations of Christmas casseroles might include turkey or chicken sausage, low-fat cheese, low-fat milk and sweet potatoes. Of course, a true Christmas casserole, although it contains certain staples such as eggs, cheese and meat or vegetables, has many variations, depending on preference and the availability of ingredients. Any hot dish around which people gather at the holiday might be classified as a Christmas casserole.
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![Fontina is a great way to dress up a casserole.]()
By: LsantilliFontina is a great way to dress up a casserole. -
![Many Christmas casseroles include bacon.]()
By: sparkiaMany Christmas casseroles include bacon. -
![A Christmas casserole may be made entirely of vegetables.]()
By: Lulu DurandA Christmas casserole may be made entirely of vegetables. -
![A Christmas breakfast casserole may use eggs as a main ingredient.]()
By: andriigorulkoA Christmas breakfast casserole may use eggs as a main ingredient. -
![Potato casseroles are often served during Christmas.]()
By: Bronwyn PhotoPotato casseroles are often served during Christmas.
Discussion Comments
Considering how much my family and I bake during the Holidays, we normally don't have time to make breakfast casseroles. However, this year, we may try something different. Normally, my mom fixes a big breakfast for us in the morning. However, if she were to fix a breakfast casserole instead, it would be a great alternative. After all, instead of eating bacon, eggs and toast, breakfast casseroles are a combination of everything.
I really like how the article mentions that you can eat healthy variations of Christmas casseroles. Not only does it show that casseroles can appeal to anyone, but even more so, if you're trying to watch you're weight, it's a perfect solution. In fact, let's look at it this way. During the Holidays, people tend to gain weight because of how much they eat. However, there are always alternatives to making sure that you don't overdo it.
Overall, Christmas casseroles are one of my favorite dishes, especially during the Holidays. Not only do they have a lot of variety in them, but even more so, you can pack them with a lot of things, as the article discusses as well. Whether it's bacon, eggs, cheese or a combination of everything, it's something for the family to enjoy.
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