Go ahead, sleep in: Breakfast is almost ready

By MICHELE KAYALFor The Associated Press  It’s Christmas morning and your family’s got one thing on their minds — presents.But all that tearing and mayhem is bound to make people hungry. So rather than tear yourself away from the fun to create an elaborate breakfast, rely on some easy make-ahead dishes that can be assembled the night before and popped in the oven when you turn on the coffee maker.“You don’t want to be in the kitchen when your family is opening presents in the morning, or if you have a long day of people coming in and out of your house,” says Peter Degnan, culinary director for Williams-Sonoma. “You want something really quick and easy, but it also has to be really good and something special.”Here are a few ideas for egg dishes, yeast breads and even hot cereals so good — and fuss-free — your family and friends will think they’ve been left by food savvy elves.—Strata and French toastThink of these custard-soaked bread dishes as cousins, one savory, one sweet.For strata, start with a good baguette or Italian peasant loaf. The night before, saturate the slices with a milk-and-egg mixture, then layer them with your favorite ingredients (all meat should be fully cooked) in a buttered baking dish.For a basic formula, try a standard baguette, a half-dozen eggs and 1 cup of milk. A total of 3 or 4 cups of ingredients can be scattered between the layers. Pour any remaining custard over the top.Ham, bacon, sausage, cheese, spinach, broccoli and other omelet staples make perfect fillings. Try pairing cooked Italian sausage with thinly sliced apples and Grana Padano cheese for a hearty, salty-sweet sensation.For Janis McLean, executive chef at the Morrison-Clark Historic Hotel and Restaurant in Washington, a Christmas morning strata is part of the family tradition and she loads it up with intense ingredients, such as wild mushrooms, sauteed chard, smoky bacon and caramelized onions.For the family sweet tooths, nothing beats a creamy French toast. McLean starts with slices of egg bread, such as challah or brioche, and uses heavy cream in the custard with a touch of orange zest, vanilla and salt.As with the strata, for French toast, soak the slices very well, then layer them with the ingredients in a buttered shallow baking dish the night before. Slices of cream cheese, bits of cooked bacon or even good quality preserves can make tasty fillings. Pour any remaining custard over the top. Cover tightly and let it all soak in.Both dishes should bake at 325 degrees for about an hour, or until a knife inserted at the center comes out clean.When serving the French toast, try one of Degnan’s favorite tricks: sprinkle the top with superfine sugar and use a cook’s torch to create a crunchy creme brulee effect. Voila. Very French. Very toasty.— Quiche and other eggy breakfast piesThere are as many egg pies as there are holiday traditions. And like strata, all of them accommodate your family’s favorite flavors and fillings.Among the easiest is quiche, a simple pie crust (use a purchased one for ease) filled with a mixture of eggs, milk and your favorite ingredients. Quiche can be cooked the night before and warmed up while the festivities get going.If quiche seems too pedestrian, Degnan recommends sformatino, Italy’s answer to souffle. Made by combining a bechamel base with eggs and flavorings, sformatino can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning.Degnan suggests coating buttered ramekins with finely grated cheese or fresh, herbed bread crumbs. “It’s a less fussy soufflé,” Degnan says, suggesting flavorings from mild cheese to roasted peppers or nettles.Or go with a frittata — Spain’s open-face, baked omelet — which can be made the night before and served warmed or at room temperature in the morning.McLean’s favorite make-ahead egg dish? Crispy baked eggs. Line the bottom of well buttered ramekins with sausage grits and place in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, crack an egg into each one, add a tablespoon of cream and some shredded cheese and bake in a hot oven for 20 minutes. “It’s really easy-peasey,” she says.— OatmealThick, creamy, hot and filling, nothing says comfort like great oatmeal on a cold morning. Start with steel cut oats for maximum flavor and texture (the rolled kind will turn to mush).Cook them overnight on low in a slow cooker, or for even better texture, pour boiling water over the oats and let them soak overnight. A quick stir over heat in the morning will make them ready to eat.Either way, have lots of luxurious garnishes on hand: warm, vanilla-laced heavy cream, pure maple syrup, gourmet honey, lots of fruits and nuts, and (for a unique holiday kick) really good egg nog.McLean pairs her oatmeal with a dried fruit compote full of cranberries, cherries and apricots, spiked with a little cinnamon, star anise and Armagnac to make it “just a tiny bit adult.” The compote can be made a week in advance.If you really want to go over the top, Degnan says get the torch out again: top a casserole dish of cooked oatmeal with bananas and superfine sugar and torch the top for that brulee effect.— CasserolesAll hail the slow cooker. Throw just about anything in and watch breakfast happen. The Internet is full of tasty recipes that suggest layering frozen hash browns with cheese, cooked meat such as ham, sausage or bacon, and, of course, beaten eggs. Set on low overnight, the cooker will yield a fluffy breakfast casserole ready for morning.Or use the same approach in a buttered casserole dish. Assemble the ingredients and refrigerate overnight. Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 to 45 minutes Christmas morning.  Get a jump on a holiday breakfast with this simple, savory strata that can be prepared the night before and baked in the oven when you wake up.SAVORY SAUSAGE-APPLE STRATAStart to finish: 9 1/2 hours (20 minutes active)Servings: 6 to 86 eggs, beaten2 cups milk1/4 teaspoon nutmeg8-ounce loaf Italian peasant bread, cut into 1-inch thick slices3 cups fully cooked, finely chopped spicy Italian sausage3 crisp, sweet apples, cored and sliced into very thin rounds2 1/2 cups grated Grana Padano cheeseLightly butter a 9-by-9-inch baking dish.In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and nutmeg. Soak each slice of bread in the custard until fully saturated. Arrange a third of the slices in the prepared baking dish.Top the bread with half of the sausage, half of the apples, and 1 cup of the cheese. Layer another third of the bread over the fillings, then top with the remaining sausage, apples and 1 cup cheese. Top with remaining bread.Pour any remaining custard over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Bake uncovered for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.(Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens’ “New Cookbook”)  These aromatic pumpkin pancakes are made in the blender and are easy to start the night before. When you’re ready to cook, simply add seltzer water and baking soda (which keep the pancakes light) to the blender.DO-AHEAD PUMPKIN PANCAKESStart to finish: 20 minutes activeServings: 4 to 61 cup milk1 tablespoon vegetable oil2 eggs1/2 cup pumpkin puree1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour3 tablespoons packed brown sugar1 tablespoon baking powder2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice1 teaspoon salt1/2 cup seltzer water1 teaspoon baking sodaIn a blender, combine the milk, oil, eggs and pumpkin puree. Blend until smooth. Add the flour, sugar, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Blend until smooth. Refrigerate, in the blender carafe overnight.When ready to cook the pancakes, place the blender carafe back on the base. Add the seltzer water and baking soda and blend for 10 seconds.Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium.Lightly coat the skillet with cooking spray, then ladle the pancake batter into the skillet, 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until the pancakes begin to bubble, about 2 minutes, then flip and cook until lightly browned.Place the cooked pancakes on a baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining ingredients.