Countdown to Thanksgiving - Make Ahead French Toast

 

If you are expecting gifts this Thanksgiving, Christmas, or really any time, then the recipe I am sharing today will be a game changer. 

I started making Make Ahead French Toast the night before a holiday years ago, and still make it several times a year.  It doesn't take long to prepare, and but then next morning all you need to do is put it in the oven.  Since I made it several times over the years, some of these pictures are of slight variations and versions I have made. 

For this recipe you will need

bread (any kind, white, wheat, raisin, specialty) 

4 -6 eggs

1/2 cup of milk 

vanilla 

cinnamon sugar mix (if desired) 

cream cheese (any kind) 

If you are making for more than 6 people you may need to double the recipe. 

You will need two pieces of bread per person.  You may want to make a few extras though.  Lay your bread pieces in the bottom of a casserole pan.  (or pans based on how many you make) 

Spread cream cheese on each of the bottom pieces.  I have used regular cream cheese and strawberry cream cheese on different types of bread.   My favorite bread to use is cinnamon raisin bread. 

Once the cream cheese is spread place another piece of bread on top.  If you only have plain bread but want to add cinnamon sugar, this is when yo would sprinkle it over the bread pieces. 

In the photo in the bottom, I cut the bread in half to so more would fit in my pan. 

In a bowl mix your eggs and milk mixture and then pour it over the bread.  

Cover the casserole dish with foil and place in the fridge over night.  

The next morning allow the dish sit for a few minutes so it does not go in the over cold.   Preheat the over to 350 degrees.     Bake for 30 minutes with foil on and for 10-15 more with foil off.  

I love to add some sliced strawberries on top of the French Toast and add some syrup.  What is really nice about this recipe it is extremely easy to adapt it.  It is also nice, because you can serve a delicious filling breakfast with ease, and it doesn't take time away from your guests. 

If you need something to do with your guests, I have several Thanksgiving Activities and Games currently in my Etsy Shop

I have printable games for both kids and adults in my shop The Thanksgiving Trivia Game was a lot of fun to make. I learned so much new info making it.   I plan on using the Thanksgiving Parade Scavenger Hunt while watching the parade this year.  If you have younger kids who need to keep busy, they might like to play the Thanksgiving Matching Game, Thankgiving Riddle Me This, or Thanksgiving Would Your Rather

Tomorrow I have an easy craft for kids, and an original Christmas gift idea to share with you.  See you then! 

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Countdown to Thanksgiving - Leftover Turkey Pizza

 

In today's Countdown to Thanksgiving post I am going to share one of my favorite Thanksgiving recipes and that is 

Leftover Thanksgiving Pizza.   I think I look forward to making this pizza more than the actual dinner.   

Last year I made three pizzas for my bonus kids, and I am not kidding when I say all three of them disappeared in minutes. 

It seems that every time I make this pizza it's in the evening without good light, because all of my photos are darker than I would like.  I will have to try and take some lighter pictures when I make it this year. 

Anyway back to the recipe.  The crust is made from crescent roll dough.  You only need one package per pizza.  Other types of pizza dough will work too, I just find premade dough the easiest and quickest.   Back the dough for 8 minutes in a 425 degree oven. 

There are a couple of things you can use for the sauce.  I like to use the cranberry sauce with berries as mine.  I buy it from Aldi, but I have seen it in regular grocery stores as well.  A few years when I did not have cranberry sauce, I used black cherry topping which was a great alternative.

One top of the sauce I put a layer of leftover stuffing.  If you house is like my house though there is not usually enough leftover.  I like to keep a box of stuffing on hand to add it to the pizza. 

After the stuffing, I added a layer of turkey pieces that I pulled into smaller pieces.  

My family loves cheese, so I add a generous amount on top. 

What is nice about this pizza is you can change it up based on your family's leftovers. You could easily add mashed potatoes, or switch out the cranberry sauce for gravy, it's up to you. 

Once the cheese is added, put the pizza back in the over for 6 more minutes. 

When it is done, it is a yummy mix of Thanksgiving flavors.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.   So while you are stocking up on your holiday groceries, make to pick up a few extra items so you have them on hand for this pizza.  

Savings Tip of the Day 

If you love Subway, through today you can get a Buy one, get one free footlong in the app or online with the code  FLBOGO, also if you like to give gift cards as gifts they will give you a few 6 inch sub with a gift card purchase of $25. 

Another thing that you might find helpful when planning your holiday meal shopping, Meijer and probably other stores as well often have a preview of the next weeks ad, so you can see what will be on sale the following week.  This may be helpful if you are on a tight budget this year.  

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