Pumpkin Dip

Hey! You should make this! 

It's delicious. I served it with a mixture of Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith apples, as well as thin ginger snaps. And only 107 calories for 2tbsps!

Then, go to Safeway and buy a pumpkin dish from the seasonal aisle to make it festive.

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

I grew up in Ballard before it was a hipster heaven. What was it like then? Blue collar and working class glory. I spent afternoons and summers running around in "the gully" (if you're cool enough, you know). Dinner was always some sort of casserole because it was cheap, easy, and filling.

My love of the casserole has stayed with me, as you can see by my multiple renditions of tater tot casserole. 

Another thing I loved as a kid was when my mom would be at a PTA meeting or sometimes a knitting class and it was "Dad dinner night." This meant McDonald's or breakfast for dinner. Tom Galloway is an expert in bacon, sausage, and soft boiled eggs. Therefore, I love savory breakfast. So, combining those two lives, I give you my masterpiece: Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

You will need:

9x13 pan, sprayed with non stick spray

Oven heated to 350

1 package of shredded cheddar cheese (16oz)

6 eggs

1/2 cup whole milk

I log of Jimmy Dean Sausage in maple

2 packages of sausage gravy mix

1 can (16oz) of Pillisbury buttermilk biscuits

Salt and pepper 

Start out with your biscuits. Lay them all out and cut them into 4ths, like, in half, then in half again. Spread those in one layer along the bottom of your pan. 

Next, cook the sausage. You want it to be loose, not in patties like the package tells you. Cook it like hamburger helper. Drain off the fat and salt and pepper it, then spread on top of the biscuits. 

Now, beat the 6 eggs and the milk. Spread the cheddar cheese over the sausage and then pour the eggs over the top.

Make the gravy per the package directions. When you pour it over the eggs, they will start to cook because the gravy is HOT. Don't freak out. Just put it in the oven! 

Bake for about 35 minutes.

Take it to Seahawks Sunday and revel in the praise. 

Direct quote "I could eat that entire thing."

A little trashy is always the best.

Make sure to serve it on Ballard chinaware:

Serves 8 at 414 calories each.

Baked French Toast deliciousness

So, Mother's Day has not always been my best holiday.  I tend to work best under a deadline, and this one always sneaks up on me, and then I go "well, better luck next year."  Plus, my mom already has something planned because she has a Mum to plan for too.  This year was a little different. Mum has been in and out of the hospital and generally loving to not get out of bed.  So, we would be going to visit her at Bayview, and not planning some brunch out or BBQ, or whatever we typically do.
So, I decided we would have brunch at my house. Thomas was on board and  wanted to make BLTs, I said I'd cover the rest.  I gave Mom some options, she picked baked French toast, and it was AMAZING.  I got the recipe from Martha Stewart.  just called her up and said "hey, I need a recipe.' Here is the link for those of you that don't have her phone number: http://www.marthastewart.com/346883/baked-french-toast

And, as usual, I messed some stuff up which made it better! Like, in the step where it says to add 1/3 cup sugar, I just put in all the sugar I had measured out (1/3c + 3T), and Safeway didn't have a loaf of brioche, so I used brioche rolls cut in half.  I always used a metal pan, and I let the brioche soak in the batter overnight.

But, my dad ate almost half of it, so I call that #WINNING (I've been waiting for an appropriate time to bring that back).