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12 March, 2009

Foodie Friday...or...Easter Brunch

Welcome to Foodie Friday with our multi-talented hostess, our dear Gollum at Designs by Gollum! Be sure to visit her beautiful blog to see what she has cooking and to see a list of this week's participants!
We have had several beautiful days of warm, sunny weather which have me longing for Spring and planning for Easter! Yesterday, I presented my Easter tablescape and today I am showing you the brunch that goes with it!


There will be four of us, so it is a simple menu, but a favorite with my family:
Country Grits and Sausage Casserole
Fresh fruit
Southern style biscuits
Orange juice
Coffee
First a word about the biscuits...I venture to say that there is an entire generation of Southern cooks who cannot make the first biscuit because of these...Pillsbury Grands! Southern Style Biscuits. Oprah even featured them on her Favorite Things show several years ago! I know they are waaaay better than mine...and no mess to clean up! I am sure that you dyed-in-the-wool Southern cooks are cringing, but for a lazy person like me, they are a godsend!

And here is the casserole! It came from Southern Living magazine's My Recipes website and those of you who are familiar with it know that means it is automatically good! I made only half of the recipe because there will only be four of us. The full recipe serves ten.
Country Sausage and Grits Casserole
Ingredients2 pounds mild ground pork sausage
4 cups water
1 1/4 cups quick-cooking grits, uncooked
4 cups (1 pound) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
Paprika
Garnish: fresh parsley sprigs
PreparationBrown sausage in a large skillet, stirring until it crumbles. Drain well, and set aside.
Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan, and stir in grits. Return to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; add cheese and next 3 ingredients, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in sausage and eggs.
Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13" x 9" x 2" baking dish; sprinkle with paprika. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until golden and heated. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired.
Make-Ahead: Prepare grits mixture as directed above, but do not bake. Cover and chill overnight. Remove from refrigerator; let stand, covered 30 minutes. Uncover and bake as directed.
Serves ten.

For those of you who are not fans of grits, my son-in-law loves this casserole and he doesn't usually like grits! What I like most about the recipe, other than it's delicious, is the fact that you can make it ahead of time and then just pull it out and cook it when you need it! I also love it on a cold winter night when my family has what we call breakfast for supper!
And there you have it...my simple Easter brunch! Be sure to visit Gollum to see one of her beautifully prepared dishes and to find the list of the other participants!

59 comments:

  1. Salut, Debbie,
    Je suis la première pour la deuxième fois! Nous avons présenté un "brunch"...mais tu l'as préparé et moi, j'ai pris des photos. Quand même c'est bon, ça. Je n'ai jamais préparé les "grands biscuits", mais je vais les essayer. Quel "brunch" délicieux! Linda

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  2. Oh Debbie, that sounds so good. My DH is such a western boy and says he hates grits but I don't think he's ever really eaten them before, so this is one dish I will try and maybe he'll discover he likes them. It just looks so good and I love that you can make it ahead of time. Sounds yummy! Hugs, Marty

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  3. I love grits! So does hubby - we really enjoy making the breakfast casseroles when we have overnight guests - I'll certainly keep this recipe (but I bet it would taste even better on your pretty Easter table setting!)

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  4. Hey Debbie...I love to have breakfast for supper! and I love grits...yummy! This was a delicious post...thank you! ;-) Bo

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  5. Yummy! I can't make biscuits to match my grandmother's, so I usually make Mary B's frozen (but don't tell anyone else!!!) I will try your grits casserole - it looks great! :D Jewel

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  6. Now Debbie the Biscuits are great I use them all the time..but girl I don't do grits..Hey what can I say I'm from Ca. and we do quiche and wine here..Now my FIL use to make them all the time when I would go visit him in KY...they ate them every morning with sausage gravy...Hope you have a great day dear friend...hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  7. Yum! This looks so good, Debbie! I love this and am so glad you gave us your recipe. I'm taking a break from trying to write mine. I have writer's block. LOL! More like TBS... Tired Brain Syndrome!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  8. Hey Girlfriend...

    Love your menu for Easter brunch...ummmm...yummmy!!! I haven't ever tried Country sausage and grits casserole but I know I would love it! Hmmm...wonder if you can buy grits up here in yankee country...wink! Debbie, you made your fruit look so pretty and as far as the bisquits go...I'm with you, Girlfriend...thank God for Grands bisquits...hehe!!!

    Well my friend, your Easter brunch looks smashing on that pretty table! Well done, Sweetie!

    Love ya,
    Chari

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  9. This woman loves grits - in any form - for any meal. Thanks so much....everything looks beautiful!

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  10. I don't know if my husband likes grits but I will try this one on him! It looks delicious and your table is beautiful! Thanks!

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  11. Breakfast is my favorite food, I could eat it all day. That looks so good!
    ~Michelle

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  12. Mmmmmmm! That casserole looks yummy! Grits, sausage, cheese...what's not to love!?!?!

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  13. An Easter Brunch is always good -- and those biscuits are great -- because you can take out two (or three) and have biscuits. When I make a batch -- no matter how good the intentions, we always end up eating the WHOLE THING!

    The casserole looks good as well.

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  14. I'm all for taking a short cut if necessary - and making biscuits would be front and foremost taking a short cut with me!! Everything looks yummy..and love your tablescape!!

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  15. My husband loves Grand biscuits! Happy Foodie Friday!
    Susan

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  16. Oh boy Debbie, you mean I might be able to get DH to eat grits? lol. This sounds great, and I may sneak it past him some day. And as for the biscuits, I'm with you 100%. I also use Sister Schuberts frozen rolls. I can't compete with them, so I just roll with it (I swear that pun was not intended). This looks wonderful on your pretty Easter table. Hugs, Kathy

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  17. My tongue filled with water.........

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  18. Hi Debbie! Now I'm a southern gal, and honey, I love me some grits and this casserole looks and sounds delicious! I'm going to try this. The fruit on the side just make everything so pretty! Do you have any leftovers?
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  19. Debbie, this looks SO delicious! I can't wait to try this recipe. laurie

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  20. My husband would obsess over this. He loves grits! I will have to try it out for him!

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  21. I like food that can be prepared ahead of time so this recipe is great. Thanks, Debbie!..Christine

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  22. Hi Prof. Debbie,
    This is so good looking and although I tried grits once and didn't care for them, this looks so good that I need to give it a try. Us yankees aren't too familiar with the grits thing but in this part of Wisconsin we have something called Krub. It's a Norwegian dish that my hubby loves, but and I kid you not, I can hardly stand looking at them. Thank goodness his Mom still makes them for him once in awhile, that along with lutefisk (another strange Norwegian food) LOL, Cindy

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  23. Your napkin rings are most egg-cellent! I tried to leave a comment last night, but Blogger was having a hissy fit. Your sausage casserole looks scrumptious.

    Susan says you have a hilarious story about a phone call....

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  24. Hey there Ms. Debbie... Now, love that recipe., I was caught off guard when I realized I'd scheduled my post with the pic., but not the recipe yet when I checked my blog tonight. haha! The recipe is there now if you want to check it out. Hey...where's the staff tonight! I am missing Baby Kitty, your cohost! ;) ~CC Catherine., hey, you'll have to tell me what all you picked up at Emma's Attic., can't wait to see it! ;)

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  25. Yum! It looks wonderful and I like the idea of using the Grits in a casserole. And who knew that Pillsbury had their grands in a bag and not just the tube. I love Pillsbury!

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  26. Ahhh, my favorite biscuit! The casserole sounds delicious. I love brunch! ♥

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  27. Wow, those fruits look so good! I'm hungry now, but I need to get some sleep firtst. Bye!

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  28. Looks a YUMMeeee dish! CHEERS! Michele

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  29. Oh this looks SO delicious! I love your blog..and your cats are WAY too adorable. Four you say? ;) I guess that gives me a good excuse for another. Lol! Thanks!! Glad you liked Ryan Conners. Isn't her artwork just adorable! She commissions as well! You should have her do your cats. I'm going to see how much it will cost for mine. :) Love your music too!

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  30. Oooh Debbie just checked out Pete the Cat...I love the art!! They're so fun and love the categories. I'm going to have to mark that as a fav. :) Thanks!!

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  31. This looks so yummy and I am all about ease since our family is raised. I am going to look for these biscuits in out Utah stores:-) Happy Foodie friday! Thank you for sharing!

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  32. Just printed the sausage and prints casserole. I can tell you that my husband will think he has died and gone to heaven! Thanks!

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  33. somehow, you're making me hungry!!!
    stop that

    thanks for the chat

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  34. Your casserole sounds good, not sure that my family would eat grits, but I don't even think they would know they were in there. I might give this a try, thanks. The fruit looks wonderful.

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  35. Debbie this looks delish! I love those frozen biscuits. The dinner rolls I used in the Shepherd's Pie and Stroganoff posts are the same brand. I like how you can bake a few at a time.

    Great post!

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  36. Hey Debbie!! Lets hear it for the Grands!! *winks* And I'm embarrassed to say I've never had grits! Probably bans me from the "Ya'll" list huh? Lol! So I'm going to try your dish....I'm trusting ya!*winks*
    At the antique show that gal had lots of quimper pieces, but not a single plate with a gent! Maybe she doesn't like boys? But I remembered that you like yours in pairs or I would have gotten her card for you. She seemed very eager to barter....I always love that in a seller! In retrospect you might have liked a tureen or something else that doesn't actually come in a pair....but I'm a blonde...what can I say? I was just too excited! Lol! Vanna

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  37. Oh and I LOVEEEEE!!!! Your new bloggy dress!!! Vanna

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  38. Grits are something I've never tried either (being a northern gal) but your recipe looks great and the biscuits Grand!

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  39. Thank-you Debbie,
    You are such a sweetheart. I love the look of your new blog background. Wonderful!! Have a nice weekend ! Cindy

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  40. I will have to try that recipe.
    Thank you for sharing with us.
    I have tried those biscuits and
    they are very good!

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  41. Being a yankee and all, I've never had grits. I love the easy overnight brunch dishes and this is a new one AND it sounds good! ~ Robyn

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  42. I am allergic to onions and there are no onions in this casserole! Yeah!!! I am making this.

    Love those painted chargers. Now to figure out whhere to store them....

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  43. Hi Debbie. Ya know I didn't learn how to make homemade biscuits until I was in my 30's! Mom didn't allow us in the kitchen too often growing up. And I didn't care! A good friend of mine actually 'taught' me how to make them. However, I LOVE the frozen grands! I 'cheat' with them all of the time. Easier, faster and right...no mess! Plus they are just so yummy.

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  44. Sounds wonderful! I am going to try the bisquits! We been buying frozen since my illness, and working on the road. I have not made homemade bisquits in ten years. My children stayed the night, and yesterday I made bisquits! They wanted to know where the eggs were, my daughter was going to fix her hubby's just the way he likes them. Said do we have to go out to the chicken house to get the eggs. No there is some in fridge, but if you want it fresh be my guest! lol Oh back to the bisquits, They were awful and ugly! lol Thanks for the tip, I have forgotten how to make bisquits! The food is making me so hungry!

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  45. Oh how yummy. So are these southern biscuits like tea biscuits? They look delicious. I may have had them in Florida once :) I enjoy breakfast sausages, and on trips over the bridge to NY I pick up some Jimmy Dean or Bob Evans. They are a weakness :) I will have to try them with grits, I think my cousins bring them back from Florida!

    I just love your tablescape! It looks FABULOUS and so PRETTY as usual. :):):)

    Your kitties are so sweet and as helpful as can be I see ;) Just like mine.

    Have a great day Deb

    Deb

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  46. Oh YUMMMMMM!! I gotta gotta gotta try this recipe! And there's nothing like Grands biscuits are there?! Love your new bloggy dress! :-) L~

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  47. I hope you enjoyed your meal it certainly looked delicious. Judith

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  48. Hey Debbie! I'm not participating in the FF, but wanted to take a min to tell you hello. I hope you are having a good weekend. I finally got you added to my blog roll.

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  49. You are already ready for Easter... you are way ahead of the game! I go for the REAL EASY... I invite family to brunch OUT!

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  50. Hi Debbie, brunch is my favorite meal of the day and I'd love to try your grits casserole! I worked at a hotel once where there was a whole lot of leftovers of grits for breakfast in the cafeteria. It was from a banquet for an NFL team and those boys eat tons! Well being in So. Calif. no one could make heads or tails of it and thought it was mashed potatoes except it didn't taste like it! haha! The only reason I knew is because I used to have a friend who was from the south.

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  51. La recette semble divine ... Comment peut-on dire grits en français? Oh well, though I am the last to post... I'll be the first to eat this delicious recipe! Ricky said it was yummy and he hopes I'll make it again soon... Hope all is well...
    blessings. Dixie

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  52. Darn this looks gret this morning Deb.I came running over.Do you know this lady?I thought what a coincidence.She is a retired french teacher that loves dishes,hmmm.if not go see her.http://ninasnest.blogspot.com/
    love ya...aNN

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  53. Hi Debbie,I was thinking as I was reading this...I don't even know what grits are,don't know if you can get them here either.I'm going out shopping,going on a grits hunt. :)
    cyndi

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  54. the casserole looks soo yummy!

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  55. Hi Debbie!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe, it sounds delicious!
    Hope you're doing well & enjoying nice spring weather in your area.

    Blessings,
    Carol

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  56. Debbie, I know I've posted on this once, but I am just dropping by to say hope you are having a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  57. What a faulous blog, I just found you and I am so enjoying reading your posts! Wonderful!!!
    xoxo
    Judith~
    Paris Atelier

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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment! I appreciate my wonderful readers!... Debbie