Easy Labor Day Menu

Sep
2011
02

posted by on 2011, Dinner, Holiday, holidays, recipes

7 comments

We are gearing up for Labor Day weekend. It’s the last “true” weekend of summer. Soon we will be focused on Halloween and the holidays. Stress will take over our lives and we will long for the lazy days of summer.

Labor day weekend is full of family and great food but I hate when I spend the whole day cooking and then cleaning! I want to relax on the last weekend of summer with my family but still enjoy great food. This year, I’m going to make things easy!

I’m going to start the day off with a baked french toast. This is something I can prep the night before and stick in the oven when we get up. French toast is filling and will give the family a great full start to the day. I’ve tried a lot of recipes for baked french toast but none of them are better than Paula Deen’s Baked French Toast.

Baked French Toast

  • 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Dash salt
  • Praline Topping, recipe follows
  • Maple syrup

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.

Praline Topping:

  • 1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Yes, it’s heaven! Your family will enjoy this hearty breakfast and you won’t have to worry about cooking until the afternoon.

During the afternoon I will be serving up deviled eggs and fresh homemade salsa to snack on. Our main course is going to be pulled pork sliders. These are easy to make and can cook in the crockpot while you enjoy the rest of your day. I like to serve my pulled pork sliders on sweet Hawaiian rolls…YUM!

Pulled Pork Sliders

  • 1 pork Roast
  • 3 apples
  • 1 onion
  • 1 bottle of BBQ sauce
  • Salt and Pepper

Layer sliced apple and sliced onion on the bottom of your crockpot. Add 1/2 cup of water and then put your pork roast in the crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 6 – 8 hours. With about 2 hours left, add the BBQ sauce. When you are ready to serve, shred the roast with 2 forks. When you make your sliders you can add some of the apples and onions to your sandwich if you like.

Stop by tomorrow for dessert and a cocktail!

 


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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/April-Smith-Decheine/606640241 April Smith Decheine

    Love the Pulled Pork sliders! I am trying to figure out our Labor Day Menu today :-)

  • Shop with Me Mama (Kim)

    Oh! Great ideas, thank you !

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/April-Smith-Decheine/606640241 April Smith Decheine

    The French Toast sounds amazing.

  • http://twitter.com/CourtneysSweets Courtney Elana

    Awesome recipes!

  • http://twitter.com/wtlossmother Megan

    I want to make these!

  • Mommyhastowork

    baked french toast sounds good!