Holiday Morning Breakfast Time Saver

I found this recipe on a handwritten recipe card from my mom's kitchen 'file'. This one is called a 'wife saver'....Hmmm....lets call it a time saver. ( I understand that it is very similar to one in the Best of Bridge...and More Series. I cannot reference the book as I don't own it but if you have the book you may look up the recipe there.)

If you have a large family or guests for Christmas or Thanksgiving day...it is nice not to worry about breakfast. Make this ahead and pop in the fridge for night. Pull out in the morning, place in oven and get started on that turkey stuffing. This is also good for brunches, Sunday football afternoons etc. Maybe even a birthday breakfast...happy birthday - you know who you are!

Ingredients:

• 16 slices (or as needed) white bread (you can certainly use brown...I did white for the presentation and photos today) with crusts removed (save those crusts for your stuffing!!!)
• slices of bacon or ham (if you are using thick slices then you should chop it first or it will be difficult to cut into nice square later for serving)
• 6 eggs
• slices or grated cheddar cheese
  
• 1/2 tsp salt (or omit!!!!!)
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 to 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1/4 cup minced onion (or omit for those fussy family members :)
• 1/4 cup minced green pepper (as above)
• 1/4 tsp Tabasco (or omit....or add more!)
• 1 to 2 tsp Worcester sauce
• 3 cups whole milk (really it needs to have some substance so whole milk...yep I know I only use skim at home so I had to add a mix of cream to give it that thickness)
• 1/4 cup butter
• Special K or crushed Corn Flakes

Lightly spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish with vegetable oil. Lay 8 pieces of bread on bottom, patching to cover completely. Layer bacon or ham on top. Next layer the cheese (I used some left over shredded cheese from taco fillings.) Cover with remaining bread to resemble sandwiches.

In a bowl beat the eggs with salt and pepper. To the mixture add the dry mustard, onion, green pepper, Worcester sauce, milk and Tabasco. Pour over the 'sandwiches'. Cover and let stand in fridge overnight. In morning, melt 1/4 cup butter (I did less...about 1/8th cup. Just enough to drizzle). Pour over top. In a thin layer cover with Special K or crushed Corn Flakes. Bake uncovered in 350 oven for 1 hour. Let stand for ten minutes before serving. ....if no one digs into it first!