Recipe: Sausage & Apple Breakfast Casserole

Feed your kids' sweet tooth with a healthy breakfast option with this delicious, sweet and savory casserole. Plenty of protein, together with apples, cinnamon, and whole-grain bread make this a breakfast that will stick to your ribs, and keep your kids alert and energized until lunchtime.

Sausage and Granny Smith Apple Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

(Photo credit: stevendepolo)

1 package natural pork sausage roll
6 cups whole grain bread, cubed
3 cups whole milk
10 eggs (free range/organic if possible)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and chopped 
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups cheddar cheese, divided 

Directions:

1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish while preheating oven to 325 degrees.
2. In a large skillet, brown the sausage and drain. Set aside. 
3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla and salt. 
4. In another large mixing bowl, mix together the apples, cinnamon and sugar. Make sure the apples are well coated. 
5. In the prepared baking pan, layer half the bread crumbs on the bottom and then half the sausage, half the apples and then 1 cup of cheese. Continue to repeat layers until ingredients are gone. 
6. Take the egg mixture and pour evenly over the layers. 
7. Bake for 1 hour or until hot and bubbly.