Brunch is a great way to get together with your friends and just enjoy a weekend off. At The Gilded Tongue, we relish any opportunity to flex our culinary skills and wow our friends.

Nothing really beats seeing people enjoy something you created.

There are a few reasons why we enjoy brunch so much. First, it’s early in the day, which leaves your afternoon free for more activities. Number two, you haven’t spent your entire day at work, only to come home and prepare  an astounding meal that leaves you exhausted and dishes piled high. Last of all, it is possibly the most inexpensive meal to create for a large group.

For this brunch, we prepared a really scrumptious breakfast casserole filled with spicy sausage and sharp cheddar cheese, oven roasted potatoes with green bell peppers and onions, and crispy bacon. It was very easy to prepare, and the majority of the preparation can be done the night before.
The breakfast casserole is perfect for someone who doesn’t have a lot of time or skill in the kitchen. It has a wonderfully, light spice imparted by the Italian sausage and buttery richness from the croissants used to form the “crust.”

Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
9 Eggs
1 ½ C. Half and Half
2 TBS Green Onions, chopped, optional
1TBS. Each of Salt and Pepper
½ Onion, Small dice
Six Mini Butter Croissants
1 LB. Pork Sausage, cooked
1 C. Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 Clove of Garlic, minced
3TBS. Butter, melted
1TBS. Olive Oil

Procedure
1. Preheat the Oven to 350°F.
2. Place the eggs in a medium bowl and whisk lightly. Add the half and half, green onions, salt, and pepper. Mix until well incorporated and set aside.
3. Cut the croissants in half. Using a pastry brush, coat the cut side of the croissants with melted butter. Place them in a 10×12 pan or casserole dish. Place in the oven and bake until they are a golden brown on both sides and crispy. You only need enough croissants to cover the bottom of your pan.
4. In a medium sized skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When hot add the onions and sweat until they are translucent then add garlic and cook for a minute. Remove from the pan and drain on paper towels.
5. Remove the sausage from the casing and add to the already heated pan. Brown the sausage, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain on paper towels and allow it to cool completely. Mix with onions and garlic.
6. Press the croissants into the bottom of the pan breaking them up a bit, but not too much. Add the sausage mixture in a layer over the croissants. Then sprinkle the mixture with cheese, you may add more if you want.
7. Make sure everything is completely cool before adding the egg mixture, and procedure to pour the mixture over the rest of the ingredients. Press down on the top once, then cover in plastic and chill overnight.
8. When ready to bake, uncover the pan and place in a 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes. When the casserole is finished, the cheese will have browned, and the center of the casserole will no longer jiggle when the pan is shook. For the perfect texture use a cooking thermometer and the center will be 180°F.
9. Remove from oven and allow casserole to cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

These potatoes with their crisp golden edges are always a hit.

Oven Roasted Potatoes
With Green Bell Peppers and Onions
Ingredients
-2Lbs. Fingerling Potatoes, washed
-1 Green Bell Pepper, ¼ inch strips
-½ Yellow Onion, sliced
– ¼ C. Olive Oil
-Salt and Pepper to Taste

Procedure:
1. Preheat the Oven to 350°F.
2. Cut the potatoes in halves and quarters. The goal is to get the potatoes in equal sizes or as close as possible. This will help to ensure even cooking.
3. In a medium sized bowl, place diced onions, bell pepper, and cut potatoes. Coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss or mix with a spoon to get an even coating of olive oil on all potatoes.
4. Place the mixture on a baking sheet with raised sides and place in the oven.
5. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes or until a knife can go easily into the thickest potato, and they have started to brown.
6. Remove and allow cooling. Serve while hot.

The best part about this brunch is that it costs less than $25 to prepare, and it feeds around 5 to 6 people. You couldn’t treat that many people to a brunch at any restaurant.

Hope you enjoy!