Any suggestions for a hashbrown breakfast casserole using limited ingredients?

[babywings76]

My time is limited online this morning...but I'm on vacation at a cabin w/ DH's family. We bought stuff yesterday for our meals and I was winging it w/ ingredients to make a hashbrown breakfast casserole. Well, now I'm finding a few different recipes, but none are what I had in mind. I'm also trying to find the Ham and Cheese Brunch squares recipe. Does anyone have that? I can't access CC this morning. Or do you have any idea how measurement-wise I can make a casserole w/ the following ingredients:

2 bags of thawed hashbrowns
2 lbs. of breakfast bulk sausage
block of cream cheese
2 dozen eggs
4 cups or so of cheese
sour cream
salt and pepper
milk
butter

We don't really have anything else. The pan we have is a bit larger than a 9x13, but it's a glass pyrex. (YES, I'm really regretting not having brought my PC stuff and other spices.) Plus we forgot to buy an onion or anything else.

So, any measurement recommendations? Please? Help?

 

[c00p]

Here's the Ham & Cheese Brunch Squares:

The Pampered Chef ®
Ham & Cheese Brunch Squares
Recipe


2 cups (8 oz) grated Colby & Monterey Jack cheese blend, divided
1 pkg (22.5 oz) frozen toaster hash brown patties, thawed (10 patties)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
12 eggs
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
8 oz thickly sliced deli ham
4-5 green onions with tops, divided (about 1 cup sliced)
3 plum tomatoes
Additional coarsely ground black pepper (optional)



Preheat oven to 450°F. Lightly brush Large Bar Pan with vegetable oil using Chef's Silicone Basting Brush. Grate cheese using Ultimate Mandoline. Crumble hash browns over bar pan; press gently into an even layer. Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly over hash browns. Bake 13-15 minutes or until crust starts to brown and cheese is melted.


Meanwhile, in Classic Batter Bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth using Stainless Whisk. Gradually add eggs and black pepper; whisk until smooth. On Cutting Board, coarsely chop ham using Food Chopper. Slice green onions, reserving 1/4 cup of the tops for garnish. Place ham and remaining green onions into (8-in.) Sauté Pan; cook and stir over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until hot. Stir ham mixture into egg mixture using Small Mix ‘N Scraper®.


Remove bar pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack. Pour egg mixture over crust. Return bar pan to oven; bake 6-8 minutes or until center is set. Meanwhile, slice tomatoes in half lengthwise using Utility Knife; scrape out seeds and dice. Remove bar pan from oven; top with remaining cheese, tomatoes and reserved green onions. Sprinkle with additional black pepper, if desired. Cut into squares and serve using Mini-Serving Spatula.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

I am not a great breakfast casserole chef, but those ingredients sure sound like a breakfast casserole... wish that I could help you with that... but here is the recipe for the Ham and Cheese Brunch Squares, I think that you can adapt your ingredients with this, you just won't have the onions (which is my preference) or tomatoes... Good Luck!

HAM & CHEESE BRUNCH SQUARES
8 oz Colby & Monterey Jack cheese, divided
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. (22.5 oz) frozen toaster hash brown patties, thawed (10)
12 eggs
½ tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
8 oz thickly sliced deli ham
4-5 green onions with tops, divided (about 1 cup sliced)
3 plum tomatoes
Additional coarsely ground black pepper (optional)

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Lightly brush Large Bar Pan with vegetable oil using Chef’s Silicone Basting Brush. Grate cheese using Rotary Grinder. Crumble hash browns over bar pan; press gently into an even layer. Sprinkle half of the cheese evenly over hash browns. Bake 13-15 minutes or until crust starts to brown and cheese is melted. Meanwhile, in Classic Batter Bowl, whisk cream cheese until smooth using Stainless Whisk. Gradually add eggs and black pepper; whisk until smooth. On Cutting Board, coarsely chop ham using Food Chopper. Slice green onions, reserving ¼ cup of the tops for garnish. Place ham and remaining green onions into 8” Saute Pan; cook and stir over medium heat 2-3 minutes or until hot. Stir ham mixture into egg mixture using Small Mix ‘N Scraper. Remove bar pan from oven to Stackable Cooling Rack. Pour egg mixture over crust. Return bar pan to oven; bake 6-8 minutes or until center is set. Meanwhile, slice tomatoes in half lengthwise using Utility Knife; scrape out seeds and dice. Remove bar pan from oven; top with remaining cheese, tomatoes and reserved green onions. Sprinkle with additional black pepper, if desired. Cut into squares and serve using Mini-Serving Spatula.
Yield: 12 servings
Cook’s tips: To soften cream cheese, microwave on HIGH 15-20 seconds or until softened. Whisk until smooth.
If desired, 2 cups cooked and crumbled bulk port sausage (3/4 lb) or 1 lb bacon, cooked, drained & crumbled, can be substituted for the deli ham.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

Oops, we posted at the same time! :blushing:

 

[TrishPCMommy]

Preheat oven to 450. Brush pan with oil. Spread hash browns over pan; press gently into pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese evenly over hash browns. Bake 13-15 minutes. Whisk 8 oz of cream cheese with 12 eggs and 1/2 tsp of black pepper until smooth. Cook 3/4 lb of sausage and add to egg mixture. Remove pan from oven, pour egg mixture over crust, return to oven for 6-8 minutes. Top with 1 more cup of shredded cheese. EAT!

 

[TrishPCMommy]

And I apparently typed too slow!

 

[babywings76]

Thanks everyone! You guys are so great to help me so fast!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

With loose hashbrowns, you might want to try this slightly different recipe. It's an older PC recipe. MAKE SURE if you don't have parchment that you grease the pan! Also - I use 2-3 eggs in the hashbrowns...they stick together better that way.

 

[babywings76]

Oh No! We don't have a whisk! Ugg. So, you think I could do it with a fork?

Or should I go w/ the sour cream instead?

 

[babywings76]

Or do you think I can have it just pretty loose and not packed down into a crust form?

 

[ChefPaulaB]

I think a fork will do in a pinch! It'll just take a little longer to get it mixed...

 

[TrishPCMommy]

I'd fork it!

 

[babywings76]

Well, it's cooking...now we'll see how it is. I started doubting myself if I maybe should have just stirred all the ingredients together and then cooked it all at once to allow the hashbrowns more moisture and flavor since I don't have any onion or anything. Oh well. Thanks again for being there for me! I appreciate the help!

 

[ChefPaulaB]

Well, it's cooking...now we'll see how it is. I started doubting myself if I maybe should have just stirred all the ingredients together and then cooked it all at once to allow the hashbrowns more moisture and flavor since I don't have any onion or anything. Oh well. Thanks again for being there for me! I appreciate the help!

Let us know how it turns out!

 

[babywings76]

It tasted pretty good! Everyone liked it.

I browned the sausage, meanwhile buttered the pyrex dish, put in the hashbrowns and topped w/ cheese. Cooked it at 450 for a while. Meanwhile, I softened the cream cheese and whipped it w/ a fork , then added the dozen eggs and beat till it was well blended. I added salt and pepper. Then took out the pan from the oven, put the sausage on (not the entire 2 pkgs, though), then poured on the egg mixture. Sprinkled w/ more cheese. Baked till it was done. (Love the time measuring I do? )

It was good and I'd do it again.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

It's making me hungry!!! Sounds good!

 

[gailz2]

I love this recipe and always get fabulous reviews from it.

 

[babywings76]

It tasted pretty good! Everyone liked it.

I browned the sausage, meanwhile buttered the pyrex dish, put in the hashbrowns and topped w/ cheese. Cooked it at 450 for a while. Meanwhile, I softened the cream cheese and whipped it w/ a fork , then added the dozen eggs and beat till it was well blended. I added salt and pepper. Then took out the pan from the oven, put the sausage on (not the entire 2 pkgs, though), then poured on the egg mixture. Sprinkled w/ more cheese. Baked till it was done. (Love the time measuring I do? )

It was good and I'd do it again.

Forgot to mention...how it is so hard to cook w/ out PC items!!! It was torture doing all this cooking improvising w/ cheap junk. Pans that were the wrong size/style. Tools that were wimpy and flimsy. And the Pyrex! Oh my, that is a great thing to do to remind me why our stoneware is so awesome. Even with generously greasing the pan w/ butter, it still stuck. I know w/ the stoneware all I'd have had to do was spritz w/ oil and it would've been great.

 

[ChefPaulaB]

Forgot to mention...how it is so hard to cook w/ out PC items!!! It was torture doing all this cooking improvising w/ cheap junk. Pans that were the wrong size/style. Tools that were wimpy and flimsy. And the Pyrex! Oh my, that is a great thing to do to remind me why our stoneware is so awesome. Even with generously greasing the pan w/ butter, it still stuck. I know w/ the stoneware all I'd have had to do was spritz w/ oil and it would've been great.

I know, I totally agree... when we go camping we borrow my inlaws Motor Home (yeah, we really rough it! :balloon and they don't have much in there for cooking so I have a bin that I just store all of my old stuff in and take that, and last year, I was like, "WhY?" I can bring my good stuff if I have to pack all of my stuff anyway... this year will be different! And if we ever get our own camper I will buy the PC stuff that I want for it and just keep it there.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I know, I totally agree... when we go camping we borrow my inlaws Motor Home (yeah, we really rough it! :balloon and they don't have much in there for cooking so I have a bin that I just store all of my old stuff in and take that, and last year, I was like, "WhY?" I can bring my good stuff if I have to pack all of my stuff anyway... this year will be different! And if we ever get our own camper I will buy the PC stuff that I want for it and just keep it there.

When you do PC long enough, you will find that your Camper is a great place for retired PC products. Mine is fully outfitted w/ Professional & Gen II cookware, seasonal colored scrapers and hotpad/trivets, twixits, cutting boards, self-sharpening knives, etc...

 

[ChefPaulaB]

When you do PC long enough, you will find that your Camper is a great place for retired PC products. Mine is fully outfitted w/ Professional & Gen II cookware, seasonal colored scrapers and hotpad/trivets, twixits, cutting boards, self-sharpening knives, etc...

I've only been a consultant for a little over a year now, but I had a lot of stuff before I became a consultant, and now I have lots of doubles, I love it! There are quite a few things that I could put in my camper, if I only had one! ... I don't want to just put them in my in-laws motor home, because my SIL uses it sometimes too and I just don't overly trust her... so I'll just wait until I get my own!