Help - Make Ahead Brunch Menu

[chalupa]

I'm driving down to VA to meet my first (squee!) niece this weekend. And my mom is flying in from FL, so brother will have a full house and a not-quite-3 week old newborn. I plan to arrive with food in tow, so that no one has to worry about fussing in the kitchen or shopping for extra houseguests. 

Here are the people I'm feeding:
Me - eats anything
Mom - vegan
Brother and SIL - avoid anything too healthy looking. Won't touch green veggies.
12 yr old - Eats pretty much nothing except for chicken fingers. He'll pour himself a bowl of cereal rather than eat hot food

I can easily make a hot grain bowl for my mom with quinoa and whatever berries look fresh this week (or apple and cinnamon - whatever). 

Everything else I'd rather pre-cook or at least assemble and transport in a cooler to be cooked in the morning. So, what do I make? 

Scones (12 yr old might nibble, will keep for a few days if there are leftovers)
French toast casserole (probably my best chance of 12 yr old taking a few bites)
Quiche (12 yr old definitely wouldn't touch)
Fruit salad?

I figure bacon and sausage require me to locate and dirty a pan in SIL's kitchen, unless I incorporate them in some other dish. 

[bullygirl979]

Would anyone eat chia seed pudding? i.e. vegan mom? I also have a good recipe for a vegan oatmeal bake. I also have a FANTASTIC french toast bake recipe, if you need one.

I'd do:

Quiche
French toast casserole
Fruit salad
either scones/oatmeal bake
chia seed pudding -if anyone will eat it, lol.

[chalupa]

bullygirl979 I think only my mom and I would eat chia pudding. Bro and SIL definitely wouldn't get past the texture, haha.

[chalupa]

but yes please to the french toast bake! I know I have a recipe I've used somewhere, but if you've got one, you'll save me some digging

[bullygirl979]

chalupa, P was at another race weekend. His brother gets two VIP passes and always gives P one. Given how much it costs to do these races, the VIP tent is beyond ridiculous. I previously offered to make P chia seed pudding and like your bro/SIL, he turned his nose up at it. Well, guess what they served in the VIP tent over the weekend? Guess who LOVED it? Mmhmmm. I was totally shocked.

[bullygirl979]

Sept 18, 2017 8:08:49 GMT -5 chalupa said:

but yes please to the french toast bake! I know I have a recipe I've used somewhere, but if you've got one, you'll save me some digging

Here you go. This is, hands down, the BEST FTB I've ever had. It's so good that people fight over the last piece, whenever I make this. I also, I use fat free half and half and either 2% or skim milk. It is still fabulous. And, it is so sweet that you don't even need the berries or the syrup.

thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/baked-french-toast/

[chalupa]

Sept 18, 2017 8:10:57 GMT -5 bullygirl979 said:

chalupa , P was at another race weekend. His brother gets two VIP passes and always gives P one. Given how much it costs to do these races, the VIP tent is beyond ridiculous. I previously offered to make P chia seed pudding and like your bro/SIL, he turned his nose up at it. Well, guess what they served in the VIP tent over the weekend? Guess who LOVED it? Mmhmmm. I was totally shocked.

LOL. I've made and enjoyed it before, but I am sure my brother would similarly turn up his nose at perfectly good food. SaveSave

[chalupa]

Sept 18, 2017 8:13:31 GMT -5 bullygirl979 said:

Sept 18, 2017 8:08:49 GMT -5 chalupa said:

but yes please to the french toast bake! I know I have a recipe I've used somewhere, but if you've got one, you'll save me some digging

Here you go. This is, hands down, the BEST FTB I've ever had. It's so good that people fight over the last piece, whenever I make this. I also, I use fat free half and half and either 2% or skim milk. It is still fabulous. And, it is so sweet that you don't even need the berries or the syrup.

thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/baked-french-toast/

I'm guessing, with a whole loaf of bread, this needs a 8x11 pan? SaveSave

[bullygirl979]

Sept 18, 2017 8:23:59 GMT -5 chalupa said:

Sept 18, 2017 8:13:31 GMT -5 bullygirl979 said:

Here you go. This is, hands down, the BEST FTB I've ever had. It's so good that people fight over the last piece, whenever I make this. I also, I use fat free half and half and either 2% or skim milk. It is still fabulous. And, it is so sweet that you don't even need the berries or the syrup.

thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/baked-french-toast/

I'm guessing, with a whole loaf of bread, this needs a 8x11 pan? SaveSave

Uhhh, I forget if I use a 9 x 13 or 8 x 11. I cram it in there so I think 8 x 11 would work.

[tiramisu]

chalupa I do a slightly modified version of the pioneer woman French toast casserole and I use a lasagna pan, so probably 9x13.

My modifications include putting melted butter and brown sugar on the bottom of the pan and putting chopped pecans and apples on top of the bread before the crumb topping. I also have a vague memory of adding cinnamon and maybe a little nutmeg and/or ginger to the milk and egg mixture one of the times I made it, but that could be wrong. I do tear the bread and I used a three raisin bread that I think is just local to me for it.

This describes how I do the bottom "crust":
www.tablespoon.com/recipes/perfect-french-toast-casserole/ca16d480-f621-4067-87ad-27674feb15cb