Christmas Brunch Do Ahead Eggs Benedict Food

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH, "DO AHEAD" EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• Arrange muffin halves, cut side up in a 9x13" oven proof pan.
• Fry bacon until very crisp and soak off fat with paper towel.
• Place 2 slices on each muffin half.
• Poach your eggs until just set and carefully lift the eggs and place one on each muffin half.
• Sauce-----------------------.
• Melt 1/4 cup butter in a saucepan, stir in the flour, paprika, pepper and nutmeg.
• Gradually add milk, stir until it boils and thickens.
• Add cheese and wine, stir until the cheese melts.
• Cool and then spoon sauce over the eggs.
• Topping--------------------.
• Melt 1 tbsp butter stir in the cornflakes, cool, and sprinkle over the top of the sauce.
• Cover and refrigerate.
• In the morning heat oven to 375F and bake for 20-25 minutes, serve.

MAKE-AHEAD EGGS BENEDICT TOAST CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Flatten muffin halves with a rolling pin; press into greased muffin cups. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes., Meanwhile, prepare hollandaise sauce according to package directions; cool slightly. Sprinkle bacon with pepper. In a large skillet, cook bacon in oil over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. Divide bacon among muffin cups. Wipe skillet clean., Whisk eggs and 1/2 cup cooled hollandaise sauce until blended. In the same skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Pour in egg mixture; cook and stir until eggs are thickened and no liquid egg remains. Divide egg mixture among muffin cups; top with remaining hollandaise sauce. , Bake until heated through, 8-10 minutes. Serve warm., Overnight option: Refrigerate unbaked cups, covered, overnight. Bake until golden brown, 10-12 minutes., Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked cups in muffin cups until firm. Transfer to an airtight container; return to freezer. To use, bake cups in muffin tin as directed, increasing time to 25-30 minutes. Cover loosely with foil if needed to prevent overbrowning.

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a greased 11x7-in. baking dish, combine the bread and cheese. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, mustard, salt and pepper; pour over bread and cheese. Sprinkle with bacon. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-55 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

MAKE-AHEAD EGGS BENEDICT

Steps:

• to 400 degrees F, ensuring the oven racks are positioned in the top & bottom third of the oven. Line 3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy clean up & set aside.
• Arrange the bacon on one prepared baking sheet & set aside. Place asparagus on a second prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil, season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, & toss to coat. Place bacon & asparagus in the oven to bake & roast for 25-30 minutes, until the asparagus is tender with crispy edges & the bacon is crisp. Remove from the oven & set aside.
• Increase heat to 450 degrees F. Brush the remaining 2-3 tablespoons olive oil over the surface of the English muffins. Transfer to the oven to toast for 5-10 minutes, until golden brown & crisp around the edges. Remove from the oven & set aside.
• Add the water & vinegar to a large pot or saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. Crack the eggs into 8 individual ramekins or small bowls. For prettier poached eggs with fewer wispy whites, crack the eggs into a fine mesh sieve & swirl to strain off the looser, liquidy whites. Set aside. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with cold water & a handful of ice cubes. Set aside.
• Gently swirl the water into a gentle vortex (note - the water does not need to vigorously swirl, but it does need to have just a little bit of movement) and slide an egg into the center of the vortex. Cook 2-3 minutes, gently stirring occasionally to keep the water moving, until the white is set & the yolk is soft. Use a slotted spoon to carefully transfer the egg to the prepared water bath. Repeat with the remaining eggs. You can poach 2-3 eggs at a time, but take things as slow as you need to ensure the eggs hold their shape & cook properly.
• Carefully transfer the cooled poached eggs to an airtight container & submerge in water. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, gently lower eggs into hot water from the tap. Set aside for 1-2 minutes, until warmed through. Serve immediately.
• Add butter to a liquid measuring cup. Microwave for 60-90 seconds, until melted & very warm. Set aside.
• Add the egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt & desired seasonings to a small food processor or blender. Blend about 30 seconds. The mixture should be very well incorporated & pale yellow in color. With the blender/food processor running, very slowly stream in the hot, melted butter until the hollandaise sauce is creamy, emulsified, & has reached your desired consistency. For a thicker hollandaise, use 6-8 tablespoons butter. For a thinner hollandaise, use 8-10 tablespoons butter.
• Transfer hollandaise to an airtight jar or container and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. To reheat, transfer hollandaise to a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second increments, stirring well between increments, until the sauce is warm.
• Top each toasted English muffin with toppings of choice (crispy bacon, roasted asparagus, thinly sliced prosciutto, smoked salmon, etc.). Place a poached egg on top. Finish with a spoonful of hollandaise sauce & garnish as desired with cracked pepper, fresh herbs, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce. Serve immediately. Enjoy!