Day Three: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Tonight was our Family Home Evening and we decided that #3 could have a treat with us.  His brothers got to join us for potlucks and a birthday dinner with dessert, so this might be the happiest he looks the rest of the week.  We also played a blind version of Apples to Apples.  We weren't allowed to look at our cards before we put them down.  That way our 3-year-old could play and we would all have the same disadvantage.  Speaking of, she keeps asking when she gets to buy her groceries and even resorted to taking a handful of her brother's "delicious" mac and cheese and ate all of #2's gum. 

Yes, I said "ate".  Not chewed.  We have had to tell the boys repeatedly that anything within her reach is not a good hiding place and I even organized some high shelves for them with their own containers for keeping stuff away from her.  We might have a pretend challenge for her or a modified version.

And this is the "disgusting" thing we had for dinner that #3 didn't have to eat.  Breakfast Casserole.  This time I used bacon.  Just as I was about to fry the potatoes and onion in butter, I realized I had bacon grease. 

Breakfast Casserole

5 red largish potatoes (poke holes in them and microwave for 12 minutes if you're lazy and do this first because they need to cool off before you cut them)
1/2 sweet onion, diced
1 pound of either cooked sausage, bacon, or ham
1/4 cup butter (half a stick) or super unhealthy but delicious, reserved bacon grease
1 to 2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
12 eggs, beaten
Freshly ground pepper to taste

While your potatoes are cooking, fry up your bacon or sausage (or cut up some fully cooked ham).  Place on a paper towel on a plate to drain the grease so you can make yourself believe everything bad for you has been magically removed. 

Dice the potatoes.  You don't even have to peel them.  Heat your butter or evil bacon grease on medium in a pan, sautee the onions for a couple minutes or so, add the potatoes for another couple minutes, and spread it on the bottom of a 9x13 pan like this. 

Add the meat.  Or make your toddler add the meat.

Add the cheese

Then the eggs and pepper.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. 

Did I mention this is also a gluten free meal?  I have some gluten free friends, so I like to watch for meals that might counteract any feelings of deprivation.  You could also garnish this with some green onion and serve it with a side of fruit, top it with salsa, etc. 

Or you could yell, "BLECH!" and eat a nasty can of Chef Boyardee Mac & Cheese. 

P.S. You can also put this in the fridge the night before and pop it in the oven for breakfast.