It's Christmas morning...can we eat now?

Christmas day has come (and is nearly gone) and the rest of the evening will be spent thinking over the events of the day and looking forward to the week ahead ---post-Christmas shopping, an afternoon at the movies (Les Mis will be our choice) and of course, New Years Eve.  But, I digress.   A tradition at our house is what we like to call our Christmas casserole.  We started this tradition about 8or 9 years ago when our youngest children were elementary age (meaning I had time to actually put food in the oven!) This is such a hit with the family because, well, it is delicious.  It is an even bigger hit with me because I make the whole thing before going to bed Christmas eve, let it sit over night, turn the oven on in the morning and let it cook for 45 minutes. No dirty pots and pans in the morning, no measuring cups, etc---just put it in the oven and done!  The gifts can be opened while the casserole is cooking (if you have early risers) or you can eat first and then open presents.  Even though we no longer have early risers, our kids still prefer presents before eating (go figure!!).   I add some hot coffee, orange juice and a plate of cinammon rolls to the morning menu and voila!  Christmas breakfast at the Middletons.
                                       
                                                             Christmas Casserole

8 squares frozen hash browns                                        
1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese                            
8 oz sliced ham                                                              
6 eggs
2 1/4 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Spray bottom of  9x13 pan.  Place hash brown squares on bottom of pan.  Cover with 1 cup of cheese and all ham.  Beat eggs, add mild, mustard and pepper.  Pour over ham/hash browns.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  The next morning, heat oven to 400 degrees.  Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup of cheese over mixture in pan.   Bake 45 minutes.

**I have used bacon in place of the ham and I have also used tomatoes for meatless version.  Onions would be a great addition as well, but I have a few in my house that prefer it to be onion-less.

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