Name: Cowboy Christmas Breakfast
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 1/2 hr
Yield: Makes 12 servings (or 8 for cowboys)
Ingredients: 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened, plus additional for greasing baking dish; 1 (1-lb) package bulk breakfast sausage (not links); 1 (15-inch-long) loaf Italian bread (about 4 inches wide); 1 garlic clove, chopped; 2 dozen large eggs; 1 cup whole milk; 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 1 large bunch scallions, chopped (1 1/4 cups); 1/4 lb sharp Cheddar, coarsely grated (1 cup)

Tracy Jones Midland, Texas, writes: "I wanted to share a Christmas breakfast recipe given to my mother, Cherry Jones, by Ann Westerman, a lifelong friend. My family quickly adopted the tradition of preparing this dish on Christmas Eve, then baking it on Christmas morning while opening our presents."

The thick slices of garlicky bread in this dish are known as Texas toast.

Cooks' note:

Dish can be assembled (but not baked) 12 hours ahead and chilled, covered with buttered foil. Bake as directed above.

Recipe notes

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