Overnight French Toast Recipe

For Chrisrmas breakfast this year I wanted something quick, minimal mess and nothing too heavy. We were hosting Christmas Day lunch at our house, so we had enough things to prepare that morning, without having to also put together an elaborate breakfast However, I wanted something special, because it is the one time we will sit together as our immediate family. 

I had seen in Pinterest a number of overnight French Toast recipes and decided that would be perfect. I was able to whip it up the night before and pop it into the fridge. The next morning, while we were opening presents, I had this baking in the oven. I chopped up some fruit, and put out some jam and syrup. That was as labour intensive as it got.

This tasted delicious. My Husband doesn't usually like sweet breakfasts (he puts Vegemite on his pancakes!) yet he went for seconds. It was just what we wanted, and I suspect this will become a Christmas breakfast tradition.

Serves 6**

1/4 

cup (4 Tablespoons) butter, melted

3/4 

cup packed light brown sugar

1 

loaf Scone Bread (You could swap for any Thick Cut bread)

8 

eggs, slightly beaten

1 

cup whole milk

1 

Teaspoon vanilla paste

1/8 

teaspoon salt

** I halved the recipe to make enough for just Hubbie, myself and our daughter.

• In a small bowl combine brown sugar and melted butter and pour on the bottom of a rectangular baking dish.
• Arrange slices of bread in the baking dish overlapping if necessary.
• Combine milk, eggs, vanilla, salt in a bowl and pour evenly over bread slices.
• Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 4-12 hours.
• In the morning, take the casserole out of the fridge while you are preheating your oven to 180 degrees.
• Bake casserole for 30-35 minutes. If top starts browning too quickly place a foil loosely over the top of the casserole for the last 10 minutes or so. You want it to cook long enough to make sure the bottom part is cooked but don't dry it out completely.
• Remove casserole from oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Serve with jam, fruit & maple syrup.

Aussie Curves - Christmas

Finally! I am able to take part in my first AC challenge postbaby!

Funnily enough, I have actually 'played along' with most of the themes, choosing outfits at some point in the week in accordance with the theme, but I just never got around to taking any photos, so they went unposted.

This week's theme should have been easy enough too, afterall, I was getting dressed up anyway, and surely there would be photos? Well... kind of. I yet again forgot to take any proper outfit photos! I was determined to take part though, and after coming home from a day of shopping I realised I was pretty much wearing the same outfit, just a different necklace, so I had Hubby snap some photos!

Peplum - City Chic

Skirt - City Chic

Sandals - Target

Necklace - Peeptoe

For Christmas Day I wanted something pretty, but comfortable. This outfit was just perfect. I had been lusting after the peplum trend, watching on in envy as so many different styles came out. However, as I was pregnant for most of this year, I could only watch on in envy. 

This is one of my firts purchases post baby! A beautiful floral peplum that can be worn casually or dressed up. What i love the most is that it goes in where i'm smallest, but also perfectly covers my soft post baby belly.

Another lusted after trend was pleather! I really didn't think this would look good, but this pencil skirt is a perfect fit. The best part about this skirt was that any mess spilled on it just wiped right off. A very neccesary feature when you have a newborn and a toddler.

My sandals are my current favourites. They are from Target and are just so comfortable! They actually slip on, with the back part being made from a stretchy velvety fabric. These shoes just seem to glam up the simplest outfit, and I am kicking myself I didn't buy the same pair in the cream and black colour that was also available. I can;t seem to find them instore at the moment. 

The necklace I actually purchased from Danielle (Danimezza) at the plus size market day that we participated in a few months back. It is by Peeptoe. I think it goes perfectly with the sandals, and also adds a bit of bling to a simple outfit. I will confess that I actually wore a different necklace on the day, but I prefer the look of this one! 

I hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas!

Check out what my fellow curvettes wore this silly season!

Christmas 2013

My all time favourite time of year is Christmas. I have always LOVED the magic that surrounds the 'silly season'. I really love everything about it. I adore the decorations, and always put my tree up on the 1st of December, or the weekend before it.

 I love researching every gift and selecting the perfect one for each person. 

Now I have Children, Christmas has become extra special. I love, love, love the mythology that surrounds Santa. I have had personalised Santa sacks made for them. On Christmas eve they get put on their bedroom door handle just before they go to bed. A special key is hung on the front door to ensure Santa can find his way inside.

We carefully select the snacks for Santa  and the reindeer and leave them out so they don't leave hungry.

The excitement of Christmas morning was tangible this year, with Abigail (who is nearly 3) really understanding what was happening.

Marcus... not so much! But nevermind, his Sister 'helped' him open his pressies.

Christmas morning breakfast is a special moment for us to eat together before we are joined by our extended family. We keep it pretty light, as we know there will be plenty of food to be had during the day. 

This year we enjoyed 'Overnight French Toast' (Recipe  to come!) and fresh fruit.

I adore Christmas food, baking special treats that I only make a Christmas, and I take an active part in planning the Christmas day spread, no matter who is hosting it. This year we hosted Christmas at our place, and had my In Laws over.  We had agreed that there would be no pre-lunch nibbles, so we had room for our  beautiful lunch. Lunch was a mostly healthy affair, with different salads and cold meat. Dessert was much more decadent, with an array of slices, fruit, pudding & cheesecake.

It was a beautiful, relaxing Christmas Day surrounded by loving family. Made extra special because it was this Little Man's first!

We backed it up the next day, with a celebration with my side of the family. This one was hosted at my parents place, and we had the most amazing seafood spread. So amazing that I didn't take any photos!!

Christmas this year was one of the best I have had, surrounded by family and friends, and filled with love and laughter. What more could you ask for?