On Father’s Day this year I’m having a standard family gathering at my house for lunch. About 25 members of my family will appear, famished, after their respective church services. Since like everyone else I’m trying to watch what I spend I am planning to serve a brunch. Family gatherings are terrific occasions for this.
For the men in my family bacon, cinnamon buns, and buttermilk biscuits are quite a treat. These aren’t indulgences they enjoy on a regular basis so I look forward to serving them on this occasion. Of course I will also have a few healthier options as well. The best part is that these foods are not that complicated to prepare so I can spend more time with the fathers I love (my husband, Papa, and grandpa) instead of overworking in the kitchen- that is the plan anyway 
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Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole
This simple recipe can be altered to suit your family’s taste. I prefer to use chicken or turkey sausage when I make it but any Italian style sausage will work well. It is also simple to change the variety of cheese to create your own flavor. Since you assemble this recipe the night before, this is ideal for a holiday breakfast or when you are entertaining guests.
1lb Italian style sausage
4 slices wheat bread, cut into 1½” cubes
1½ cup grated cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped green onion
8 large eggs
1 ½ cup milk
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground sage
Black pepper to taste
Remove casing from sausage and sauté in skillet over medium heat until cooked and crumbled. Remove from skillet and drain on several layers of paper towels. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Layer the bread cubes in the bottom, top with sausage, cheddar cheese, and green onions. Beat the eggs with milk, salt, sage, and pepper, pour over contents of baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Take out of refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350º. Bake for 35 minutes or until the center is set.
Easy Cinnamon Rolls
1 10oz can refrigerated pizza dough
3 TBSP butter, softened
5 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP Cinnamon
Glaze:
5 TBSP Powdered Sugar
1-2 TBSP Milk
Preheat oven to 425º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Open the pizza dough and roll it out flat. Brush the top of the dough with the softened butter. Stir together the cinnamon and sugar sprinkle evenly over the butter. Carefully roll up from the short side into a log and cut into 16 slices. Place slices on a baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. Whisk together glaze ingredients and drizzle over buns.
If you place the buns closer together on the baking sheet they will be doughier- if you spread them out more they will be crunchier. If desired you can also add nuts or raisins.
Grandma Tiny’s Biscuits
3 cups all purpose flour
4 tsp baking powder
3 TBSP sugar
1 tsp finely ground sea salt
¾ tsp cream of tartar
1½ sticks (3/4 cup) cold butter
1¼ cup buttermilk
Preheat oven to 450º. In the bowl of a food processor combine the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into tablespoon size pieces and add to flour mixture. Pulse until mixture resembles fine meal (or if you don’t have a food processors use a pastry blender or 2 butter knives to cut in the butter). Pour mixture into large mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk. Use a fork to gently mix it in then turn out dough onto lightly floured work surface. ONLY KNEAD DOUGH 3 times (or it will be tough) and pat it to desired thickness, cut with floured cutter and place on baking pan. Gently pat together remaining dough scraps to cut more biscuits until it is all used up.
Bake 10-12 minutes.
Maple Bacon
1 package bacon
1/4 cup real maple syrup
Coarse grind black pepper
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Preheat oven to 450. Place an oven safe wire rack (a cooling rack will work) over the prepared baking sheet. Line up the bacon, side-by-side. Brush with maple syrup and sprinkle with pepper. Place in oven and bake until desired crispness is reached. Remove from rack, drain on paper towels, serve.
