Christmas Past and Present
Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 4:00AM 
“Tell me about Christmas,” Nicky says to me with a twinkle in his eye. “Tell me your favorite thing when you were a little girl.” I tell him about how much I loved baking cookies with my brother to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve and how we would fight to stay awake to hear the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof. It seems like yesterday, those sleepless Christmas Eves. My brother and I could hardly wait until sunrise.
After all these years, I now understand the work that went into making those Christmas mornings so magical. They’re as sleepless for the parents as they are for the kids. We work to assemble and arrange toys, wrap presents and set the table for breakfast. Round about midnight, I appreciate my parents’ efforts and now understand why Dad was so droopy eyed at dawn when we came rushing from our rooms.
This Christmas, I’ll prepare a breakfast casserole the night before, as I’ve done in years past, to make the most of our precious time with family. This delicious casserole can go from refrigerator to table in less than an hour, all while the children are unwrapping their gifts and you’re enjoying your morning cup of coffee.
Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole
8 cups bread cubes
2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
8 eggs
3 cups milk
Pinch of salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped green onion or chives
Lightly grease a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Layer bread cubes, followed by half of the cheese, sausage, and top with the remaining cheese.
Whisk together eggs and milk and season with salt and pepper. Pour into baking dish and gently stir to combine.
Cover and refrigerate overnight. When ready to bake, bring to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake casserole 45 minutes or until eggs are set. Sprinkle with chopped green onion or chives. Cut into squares and serve with fresh fruit and lots of hot coffee.
It’s funny how the memories come back so easily. As I watch my boys and their sense of holiday wonder, I move from present to past reliving those magical childhood memories of my own. The spirit lives on in them and suddenly, for me everything old is new again.
With love and peace this Christmas,
The Hunter Family
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Reader Comments (9)
A lovely post and tribute to the awe and wonder of it all. I have a feeling, there's a book yearning for oxygen, waiting to find its way to the keys.
Hope you all have a merry Christmas.
Hugs,
Jen
PS: We received the card. Beautiful.
Aunt Meme, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm never droopy eyed on Christmas morning. Santa does all the work. I get a good night sleep while visions of sugar plumbs dance in my head.
I will however make the breakfast casserole as the in-laws will be beating down the door at 10:00 a.m.
Merry Christmas
Suz
We hope everyone reads the section "about Marilyn." As we have often said, Marilyn is an amazing, wonderful mother, wife, creative artist and more than we can even describe! We feel very fortunate to have her in our family as the wife of our son, the mother of our grandchildren and an all around delightful human being! And our son is pretty amazing and wonderful as well.
As for Christmas Breakfast, well that sounds delicious too!
Dan and Mary Hunter
What can I say? Making memories now and sweet memories from the past. How wonderful to relive them. Now what about that breakfast casserole? Wish I could of been there for that breakfast.
Love, Patsy
That's so sweet, thank you Mary. Merry Christmas!
You're exactly right...Santa his work cut out for him. I was referring to family gifts. :)
Thanks so much Jen. Merry Christmas and lots of love to all the Darlands!
And, perhaps a mimosa while the casserole is baking...it does go by so quickly..have a wonderful day.
[...] Christmas Past and Present I tell him about how much I loved baking cookies with my brother to leave out … As I watch my boys and their sense of holiday wonder, I move from present to past … [...]