We have the same challenge.  We return from Mass around noon, starving and tired.  We almost always go out for lunch after Mass.  My dh works about 60 hours a week and I am crazy busy with the 6 kids all week.  I make a real effort to feed everyone well/healthy/frugally all week, so Sunday is a really break for us.  We used to feel guilty about going out almost every Sunday, but it’s really what works best for us.  BTW - we go to laces like “noodles” or panera - nothing fancy.

3 out of 4 Sundays I cook a large breakfast when we get home from Mass. The usual fare.
Pancakes, french toast, biscuits and gravy, bacon, sausage, eggs etc….not ALL of that on one day mind you. Usuall biscuits and gravy and eggs or pancakes,eggs and bacon etc…
A super easy one is to take a couple cans of crescent roll dough and flatten them out into a greased 9 x 13 dish. Pressing well so there are no seams. Cook up some sausage or bacon, beat about a half dozen eggs and a cup or so of shredded cheese. Pour it over the unbaked crust and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes…until everything is cooked through. can be assembled ahead of time and popped in the oven when you get home.

I have nothing to offer since I can only cook 3 meals but I can’t wait for responses. We go to early Mass too and I am always tempted to (and sometimes do) stop at a restaurant and rush through a meal before baby’s nap. Would love to surprise hubby by having something ready when we get home. Thanks for posting this!

I made crockpot breakfast casseroles for Christmas and Easter morning this year and they were wonderful. I’ve also made baked oatmeal in the crockpot. 

I’m not near my recipe files so can’t tell you the exact recipe I used, but here’s a website with wonderful recipes that I often refer to:

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2010/12/breakfast.html

I tried out this Betty Crocker Puffed-Pancake Brunch Casserole recipe last weekend with turkey sausage instead of ham and bacon, and it was a big hit! Super easy to make… though not exactly low on calories!
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/puffed-pancake-brunch-casserole/ccb23342-a6ef-45bb-93f4-766559022cb7?

Hi Rachel, et al!

I found a “Saturday Summer Strata” recipe (and why not Sunday?!) that looked intimidating, truly isn’t, and wows the crowd everytime – kids included.

Serves 6 or more

Arrange and layer with:
1 loaf country or sourdough bread (1 to 1 – 1 ¼ lb.) sliced ½” thick
8 oz cream cheese cubed
½ lb. mozzarella – grated or fresh cubed
¾ cup prepared pesto

6 oz. prosciutto, thinly sliced 

1 lb. red tomatoes, thinly sliced 


Whisk, Pour over strata; Chill:
5 large eggs 

1 ½ cups whole milk or half and half (or half of each)
½  teaspoon salt 

Freshly ground black pepper

Coat a 2-3 quart round baking dish with nonstick spray. Arrange half the bread slices on the bottom of the dish. Top with half of each of the cream cheese, mozzarella, pesto, prosciutto, and tomatoes. Fishing layering with remaining ingredients. Cut or tear bread slices if needed to make snug layers.

Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together. Pour the mixture over the layers; cover and chill for at least 2 hours or as long as overnight. Remove from refrigerator 20-30 minutes before baking.

Bake the strata at 350 degrees until puffed, golden brown, and lightly set in the center, about 1 hour. Allow strata to rest for 10 minutes before unmolding Serve hot.

To unmold: run a knife around the edge of the dish. To unmold, invert onto a cutting board or flat surface. Position a serving plate over the unmolded, upside-down strata. Invert again so the strata is right side up on the serving plate.

From Cooking With The Jamisons

Here’s another egg dish. Simple, yet equally tasty. I often buy frozen rolls and fix monkey bread or cinnamon rolls with this dish.

Breakfast Casserole
Line a 9x13” pan with 1 stick melted butter/margarine
Add 1 box seasoned croutons
Put on a layer of meat (browned sausage bits, precooked cubed ham, etc.)
Next add a layer of canned mushrooms and 1 cup grated cheddar cheese.
Blend 1 ¾ cups milk, 4 eggs, and 1 tsp dry mustard. Pour over casserole.
Next mix 1 can cream of mushroom soup and ½ cup of milk. Pour over top of casserole. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Next day bake at 250 degress for 1 ½ hours.

This is so delicious…

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/05/cinnamon-baked-french-toast/

I’m pretty blessed in that my husband decided to take over Sunday brunch duties.  We go to 8:30am mass and are home by 9:50 usually.  By the time I get the kids out of their church clothes and settled down for a 30 minute saint movie he’s got breakfast on table.  We make sure to give the kids a snack before we go to church so they’re not too hungry.  My husband usually asks everyone the night before what we want for brunch and then makes it happen.  Our usual favorites include poached, or fried eggs, bacon, toast, or pancakes, waffles, etc.  He has never done any overnight casseroles.  I realize this option is not for everyone, especially if your husband has no cooking skills.  My husband had no problem taking on this role since he’s pretty handy in the kitchen.  He also realizes that I handle all of the other meals throughout the week and deserve a half-hour coffee break on Sundays!

I second the strata suggestion.  Make it the night before and put in the oven on a timer while you’re at Mass.  Our family loves this version: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sourdough-strata-with-tomatoes-and-greens-recipe/index.html  I make it with kale, which is loaded with nutrients, and I use 2% milk and 4 eggs whites and 4 whole eggs to cut back on fat.  For something sweeter, try Cooking Light’s amazing Citrus-Cream Cheese Pull-Apart Rolls http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/citrus-cream-cheese-pull-apart-rolls-10000000222511/  Let them rise while you’re at Mass then bake when you get home.  We also love Baked Oatmeal http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/baked-oatmeal-ii/Detail.aspx  I make it the night before, then when we’re ready to eat, I microwave each serving for 45 seconds or so.  I top it with a little warm milk and some sliced bananas or berries.  Hope that helps!

For those on facebook, crock pot girls is a great site for recipes. I’m trying the egg and hasbrown on this weekend. Love it….it cooks overnight!

crock pot girls
https://www.facebook.com/Crockpotgirls?sk=app_2373072738

western omelet hashbowns
https://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=149885375096697&topic=2541

I love this recipe from Paula Deen.  It’s to be made the night before and cooked in the morning.  Delicious as is or I have substituted turkey sausage, egg substitute and whole wheat bread to make it healthier and it’s just as tasty!!

http://www.dc50tv.com/wdcw-paula-deens-breakfast-cass-131614,0,4778404.story

for those of you on Facebook, I have a group called My Catholic Kitchen where we discuss such topics!  Lots of wonderful ladies with lots of ideas on how to manage our homes and incorporate our rich Catholic traditions into our lives.  It is a safe, private group.

We can’t afford to eat out but I do make pancakes or French Toast on Sundays before mass.  I get up early and it’s ready by 7:30 am.  We are done eating by 8 or 8:30 and go to the 10 am mass.  Been doing it this way for years.

Frittata’s!  I make my frittata’s the night before and just warm them in the morning.  The combo’s are endless.  You can choose whatever vegetables you want to put in there, and any kind of cheese you like.  Just mix a dozen or so eggs with precooked veggies (broccoli, spinach, artichokes, peppers, onions, potatoes, etc. Whatever your family likes!)  and grated or shredded cheese (whatever kind you like).  Mix in some salt, peppr and whatever other herbs you like. ( I like herbs de province) Spray a rectangular pan with cooking spray and pour in your mixture. Bake at 350 degrees till puffy and a tad bit brown.  Yummmy!

We have a similar problem that we go to the 5pm Youth Mass and are starving afterward.  My oven has a setting that you can delay the start and time the cooking.  I always put something in to be done about the time we walk in the door.  It makes me feel like June Jetson!