Friday, December 31, 2010

Christmas Casserole - Helen White's Recipe

It's December 31?  You've got to be kidding me.  Seems like it was only yesterday that I was ripping open packages, assembling new gadgets, and searching for batteries.  Before the entire holiday season slips right by me, I have to share this recipe for the brunch casserole mom makes on Christmas day.  It's yum on steroids.  This casserole has been a Christmas day tradition for as long as I can remember.  Christmas stockings waiting or the smell of this casserole oozing out of the oven, not sure which makes me crazier.



Truth be told, I sneak it in here and there during the year, because its just that good.  It's a great brunch kind of thing when you have a village of eaters over at your place.  If you are a fan of SOS (military "s*#! on a shingle") and you like scrambled eggs, then this casserole will hit you right in the tasty spot.

The recipe mom fixes comes from Helen White.  Helen was my uncle John's mother over there in San Antonio.  Helen, an extremely pleasant lady, always made me feel at home by being sincerely interested in what I was up to.  Helen was a lovely Texan with a warm inviting delightful southern charm.  I miss spending time with her.   Every year we remember Helen through this delicious dish she was gracious enough to share.

The key ingredient is the dried beef.  It gives this dish a salty smokey yumminess.  The dish goes very well with a bloody mary, a mimosa, and a 6 year old child glazing over what Santa left under the tree.



Christmas Casserole - Helen White's


The Line Up  Print Recipe

4 slices bacon
3 jars Dried Beef - chopped (leave the beef rolled and slice thru it to make strips)
8 oz can sliced mushrooms, drained
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 stick butter, divided
½ cup flour
1 qt (4 cups) milk
¼ tsp pepper
16 eggs
1 cup Pet Evaporated Milk
Salt to taste

Fixin it

Chop bacon and fry until crisp then remove from skillet. Add beef, mushrooms, green pepper and ½ stick of butter to bacon drippings. Stir in flour, milk and pepper. Cook slowly until thickened to cream sauce consistency.

Mix eggs with evaporated milk, season to taste with salt and soft scramble in remaining ½ stick of butter until just set.

In a 3 qt casserole or 8x13 oblong pan, place about 1/3 of the sauce in bottom, add eggs, then cover with remainder of sauce. Eggs must be completely covered! Sprinkle cooked bacon on top.

Bake at 275 covered for 1 hour.

Note: Make it the day before, cover with foil and stick in frig. Next morning, pop in the oven for the hour for a nice tasty breakfast. Serve with fruit and coffee cake.

3 comments:

  1. bacon,beef,mushrooms and butter..I'm in!!

    sweetlife

    ReplyDelete
  2. heidizinsmeyer1/6/11, 8:44 PM

    I got the pleasure of making our Christmas Morning Casserole this year! Since we were not at John and Marion's on Christmas morning this year. I was afraid Kevin might die without his lifetime traditional breakfast for Christmas morning!!!! We serve it with Orange Sweet Rolls, Coffee and OJ!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. That is great Heidi. I am with Kevin. It's Helen's casserole or death. Take your pick! Orange sweet roles sounds like a good addition.

    ReplyDelete