Lenten Reflections With A Sprinkle of Breakfast Flair

     For me, this is the most sacred time of the year. Ushered in on Ash Wednesday each year, Catholics {and many other Christian denominations} begin a forty day pilgrimage towards Easter that is meant to be laced with reflection and renewal. I relish the time of increased awareness of the spiritual aspects of my life, as well as a chance to connect with the ancient roots that bind us to our Jewish brothers and sisters. So many traditions go along with this season, perhaps more so than any other time of the liturgical year. Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving are the pillars of this rich period. I always like to not only give up something that is distracting me from living out my best self, but also take on something that will be a positive addition to my life. Simple soup suppers take place each Friday where we gather with our parish to eat a simple meal and walk through the prayerful process of the Stations of the Cross. Paul and I try to parallel life in our own home with that in the Church. Just as the church is stripped and rather bare during this time, I keep our decorations to a minimum. The centerpiece on our dining room table is a simple white candle, a ribbon of purple and a crown of thorns. In addition, the bottom of our candy basket, which is usually filled with some sort of festive representation of the particular time of year, holds merely the Lenten daily reflections booklet. We love to take part in the annual practice of Operation Rice Bowl by Catholic Relief Services. Every year, we are given a cardboard rice bowl and a calendar of the Lenten season with something to read on a daily basis. There are stories of people in different parts of the world, explanations of what donated money can do and recipes for simple meals from other countries that we are encouraged to prepare and eat each Friday while abstaining from meat and participating in fasting. Each day on the calendar has a small reflection for the day and often will ask you to donate something to the rice bowl that goes along with the day's reading. For example, one of the days for this year stated the following: "Today we fast from meat in solidarity with more than 870 million people who live in hunger. Give $0.25 to your Rice Bowl for each time you felt hungry today." It is a wonderful way to reflect each day on gratitude, as well as to be cognizant of and give to those suffering in the world around us. At the end of the Lenten season, we turn in our Rice Bowls to the collection basket and the money goes to support those in need. Operation Rice Bowl Calendar

Lent this year has unfolded in a particularly poignant way for me. One of the reasons I love Lent so much is because nature and creation seem to parallel the dark and gloominess with which the occasion begins, along with the cheerful, hope-filled way with which it comes to an end. Aside from the usual left-over wintery dark and rainy days that began Lent this year, there seemed to be much sadness as well. A string of events right at the cusp of this season exemplified feelings of despair, confusion and loss; the deaths of my beloved grandmother, one of my mom's dearest comrades at her living facility, some former news colleagues in a horrific chopper crash and my principal's husband, all taken too soon. What closely followed was discerning about changes in some deep friendships, contemplating some difficult life decisions, coming to grips with unprocessed grief from my year as a chaplain resident in Hospice, trying to help my brother grieve and get through some painful life happenings, as well as traumatic world events like disappearing planes, incidences of school violence and a devastating mudslide. All seemed to overwhelm one with a myriad of emotions. I often found myself sitting in weekly mass with a tear streaked face or chocking back sobs at the oddest times.

As we enter the final period of Lent this weekend with the commemoration of Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week, my spirits are feeling uplifted and hopeful once again. It is almost as if I am a wet towel that has been cleansed and wrung out to the point at which there are no tears left and am now about to be hung out in the glorious sunshine, purified from that which restricts and allowed to billow back to life in the fresh air. Of course, just as the dark and rain added to the heavy mood at the beginning of Lent, so too do the recent warmer and longer days, budding fruit trees, blossoming flowers, chirping birds, sounds of playing children outside and the smell of cut grass add to the lighthearted feelings that accompany the closing of this yearly chance for reawakening. Even though this week begins with the longest Mass of the year {Palm Sunday} and is followed by several late nights at church on Tenebrae Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the beautiful Easter Vigil, I am very much looking forward to the spiritual nourishment that overflows during these opportunities. On deck as well is hosting the annual culminating Easter celebration at Chateau Wahlen, complete with feasting on a traditional lamb dinner, egg dyeing and all the festivities. As Paul pulled out the hammock yesterday, a soft breeze flowed through the house that we have slowly refashioned together and we plotted out this year's garden, I found myself counting the blessings that surround us and anticipating joys yet to come. Wishing Holy Week & Easter Blessings of reflection and renewal to each one of you!

I will end this rather lengthy contemplative blog with the promised breakfast flair. I whipped up this recipe a few weeks ago and decided right then and there that I would have to post it around Easter time, when brunch food seems to be a particularly hot commodity. A savory and filling breakfast option, this dish is perfect for a celebratory brunch or an intimate morning gathering. The layering of the ingredients gives the effect and quality of a lasagna. Garnished with some fresh fruit, a green salad or even some grilled asparagus makes this a fairly simple and lovely fare. Also, because the optional topping possibilities for this dish are endless, it would be fun to create a toppings bar and allow guests to garnish their own casseroles to a uniquely tasty fit. It can be halved in order to accommodate a cozy brunch for two or four and the leftovers are great. Fear not you non-morning folks who cringe at the idea of strapping on an apron and doing prep work to cook bright and early in the wee hours! A bonus is that the casserole can easily be prepared the night before and merely popped into the oven to bake while you enjoy your latte and have a chance to wake up! It is so yummy, and offers the versatility I relish in recipes that allows each chef the liberty of crafting their own fantastic creation.
Buon Appetito ~ Sarah

Cheesy Tots Breakfast Lasagna

Ingredients

• *16 oz. Country Breakfast Sausage {browned and cooked}
• Olive Oil
• 10 Eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 1/2 cups Milk
• 2 tsp Dry Mustard
• 1 tsp Salt
• 6 cups Fresh Bread, cubed {about 1 large French or Sourdough bread loaf}
• **3 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 1 tsp Black Pepper
• 4 cups Frozen Tater Tots

         *You can substitute any meat of your choice: bacon, ham, spicy Italian sausage, Polish sausage, ground beef, etc. My first batch was made with a spicy chicken andouille sausage and it was fabulous. 

  

        *Other cheeses could certainly be substituted as well: bleu, feta, swiss. The combinations of meat and cheese that are available lend themselves to an array of scrumptious options.

          

        ***Inserting some vegetables to the layers, like fresh spinach, would also be a lovely addition.   

Optional Toppings:
• Sliced green onions
• Sour cream
• Hot sauce
• Salsa
• Jalapenos
• Black Olives
• Crushed Red Pepper
• Fresh Tomatoes
• The possibilities are endless...Be creative!
• Instructions
  *{See Notes below for preparing the night before}

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Lightly coat a 9"x 13"x 2" casserole pan with olive oil
3. Whisk together the eggs, milk, dry mustard and salt until combined, set aside.
4. Add the bread to the egg mixture. Allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes in order for the bread to soak up the egg mixture. 
5. Fill the bottom of the casserole dish with half of the crusty bread. 
6. Top the bread with half of the cooked sausage and half of the cheese. Sprinkle with half of the black pepper. Repeat with the remaining bread, sausage, cheese and pepper.
7. Pour the remaining egg mixture all over the casserole dish.
8. Top the casserole with the tater tots in an even layer and bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until the center of the casserole is set.
9. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve with the optional toppings if desired. Enjoy!

*Notes for preparing the night before:

If you want to make this casserole without the overnight directions, use crusty day old bread instead of fresh bread and eliminate the step of bread sitting for 10-15 minutes in order to soak up the egg mixture. That step will naturally occur as it sits overnight. 

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