Meal Planning Monday ~ Easter Eggs!



            Easter Sunday is just around the corner!  Many people will be decorating Easter eggs in preparation for the big day.  I have eggs on the brain, but for an entirely different reason.  I am hosting at least a dozen family members for brunch this Sunday.  My menu includes an awesome breakfast casserole that always gets rave reviews (see recipe at the end of this post).  The casserole has eggs, turkey sausage (to keep the fat in check), hash browns, seasoning, and cheese.  The great thing about this casserole is that it tastes best when it’s assembled the night before, then goes from the fridge to the oven in the morning.

            Eggs can be a Coupon Queen’s best friend!  Not only are they cheap, eggs are tasty, easy to prepare, and nutritious.  I frequently hard boil several eggs at a time and keep them in the fridge for a quick breakfast on the go or to add to a lunch-time salad.  When I’ve had a long day at work, it’s a snap to whip up some omelets or egg sandwiches for dinner.  Eggs aren’t just for breakfast, you know!  Even if you choose free-range or organic eggs, the price is still less than a few dollars a dozen.

           

So here is what’s on the Meal Plan this week for the Luken household:

Monday~ Chicken & Veggie Foil Packets on the Grill

Tuesday~ Chicken Parmesan with Pasta and Tomato Sauce

Wednesday ~ FFY (Fend-For-Yourself)

Thursday ~ Turkey Stroganoff

Friday ~ Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Saturday ~ Easter Celebration at my Dad’s (No cooking for me!)

Sunday ~ Breakfast Casserole, bacon, fresh fruit, Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

Breakfast Casserole

1 dozen eggs

1 teaspoon of dry mustard

2 cups of milk

¼ cup of green onions, finely chopped

1 pound of ground turkey (or pork) sausage

½ teaspoon of original Mrs. Dash

1 package of frozen shredded hash browns

4 drops of hot sauce

Shredded cheese

Brown sausage and onion.  Drain.  Combine with Mrs. Dash’s seasoning.  Spray bottom of 9 x 13 inch glass pan with cooking spray.  Layer hash browns one inch thick on the bottom of the pan.  Top with the sausage and onion mixture.  In a bowl, mix together the eggs, milk, mustard, and hot sauce.  Pour into pan over the sausage and hash browns.  (Best refrigerated overnight).  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Top the casserole with shredded cheese of your choice right before baking.  Bake 45 minutes to one hour, or until golden.  Serves 8 to 10 people.