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This is one of my favorite morning dishes. The hint of lemon and basil in this baked egg dish gives it an amazing flavor. I like to pair it with the simple brown sugar baked bacon recipe that follows below also for a sweet treat.

On Christmas morning, our family gathers together to have breakfast, open presents, and share the love. The little ones are always waking up early, excited to get started, so this is a great recipe to use because it can be made and stored in the refrigerator the night before, making it easy to bake in the oven in the morning without prep and mess.

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Ingredients

  • 1 large loaf of foccacia bread
  • 2 tablespoons of Meyer lemon olive oil; or 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, combined with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of freshly-ground black pepper
  • 1 cup of milk

Directions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
    2. Cut the top off the foccacia bread and scoop out the bread inside. Tear the top of the foccacia and the inside bread into 1-inch pieces and save for the egg mixture.

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    1. Brush the inside of the foccacia bread with the Meyer lemon olive oil. Place on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes.

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    1. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Add the basil, cheese, salt, pepper, and milk. Whisk lightly. Stir in up to 4 cups of the bread pieces.

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    1. Carefully pour the egg mixture into the toasted foccacia bowl. Return to the oven and bake until the eggs have cooked, about 35 to 40 minutes.

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  1. Cut the baked foccacia into 6 to 8 pieces and serve immediately.

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Brown Sugar Bacon

Here is a treat that I dare only serve once a year on special occasions, not because it is difficult to prepare, but because it is so decadent. If you love bacon and sweet things, you will love this recipe. Just be sure you make enough because these succulent strips will quickly disappear from your table.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound package of thick sliced bacon
  • 1 cup of brown sugar

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Directions

  1. Line a cookie sheet with foil (this will help make clean-up a breeze). Place a wire rack (the kind you use for cooling your cakes or cookies) on top of the foil.
  2. Lay the bacon in separate strips on the rack and sprinkle generously with brown sugar.
  3. Bake in a 350-degree oven until browned and sizzling. Let the bacon cool slightly before plating.

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