Christmas Morning Breakfast - Cinnabons and Breakfast Casserole

I am sorry for my absence. I have been under the weather. I am better now and ready to cook! Christmas morning things are chaotic. So this is what I make for breakfast because it can be made the night before and then just thrown in the oven in the morning while you open presents. Yummy savory breakfast casserole with Cinnabon cinnamon rolls. Yes, these rolls taste so much like the original that the first time I made them I was almost giddy that I actually made THE "Cinnabon" rolls!

The Cinnabon rolls

Source: adapted from Allrecipes and from my friend Amanda

1 cup warm milk
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup butter, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour or regular flour (bread flour makes for a lighter cinnamon roll)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1 pkg yeast (1/4 ounce)


Filling:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened


Icing:
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt


Microwave milk for 45-60 seconds in the microwave. Dissolve yeast in warm milk in a large bowl. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour. Mix well. Knead dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. Put in a bowl sprayed with cooking spray and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until dough has doubled in size. *Our house is so cold I have a hard time getting things to rise. If I turn on the oven and then put the rolls on top of the stove, the oven generates enough heat for them to rise.


In a small bowl, thoroughly combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Spray surface with cooking spray or sprinkle flour on it. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread dough with 1/3 cup softened butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough starting with the longer side and cut into 12 rolls (or more smaller rolls). Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch glass baking dish. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. *After this I would put them in the refrigerator for the next morning if you are doing them the night before.


Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 18-20 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on while they are still warm so that the frosting melts into the roll. That's what the Cinnabon people do (I asked them). 

Breakfast Casserole

By Martha McMullin

In a large bowl mix together:
1 small can chopped green chilis
1 large bag of shredded hashbrowns ( I use just shy of 32 oz bag)
1 Tablespoon dried onion
1 medium container (16 ounces) cottage cheese
2 cups grated chedder cheese
2 cups cubed ham, cooked bacon, or sausage (pick you favorite, we like sausage)
12 eggs

Beat eggs and pour over the mixture. Mix well. Bake at 350 uncovered for 1 hour or until set and slightly brown on top.

*This can also be made ahead and frozen (raw) and brought out for guests. When frozen cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. 1st hour covered 2nd hour uncovered.