If Nothing Else, Don't Be Late For Easter Brunch

About author / Sarah Christine Bolton

Coffee addict; professional food writer; food fusion. Her slow cooker recipes go above and beyond your normal crockpot fare.

Daylight savings time is a great idea. It saves electricity by extending the possible daylight hours. Great idea. Except when the spring daylight savings time falls on Easter. That is not such a great idea.

Let me back up, and mention that when I was growing up, my family was never on time to church. I mean, never. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that my parents had four children, ranging in age from infant to 13, but still, we were never on time.

So, this one Easter Sunday, we get up early. We are all washed and brushed and fed and dressed in record time in our brand spanking new Easter outfits and hats. We were getting ready in such record time, my mom even had time to put makeup on before getting in the car. Traffic flowed surprisingly well. We found a great parking spot, and beat the crowds to the front door. It wasn’t until we started to hear sounds of the final ceremony song filter through the lobby that we realized something was wrong. Very wrong.

It was daylight savings time, and, instead of being early, we were an entire hour late. Of course, the fact that everything had come together so well that morning was indication enough that this day was too good to be true.

So, we snuck back out the door and into our car, and decided to go have a big brunch instead. Besides being late, brunch on Easter is a huge family tradition, especially a brunch buffet.

There was a famous one at the local Holiday Inn. Spread out over several small meeting rooms turned breakfast rooms, the buffet was a smorgasbord of delectable and delicious breakfast items. Creamy eggs, fluffy white biscuits stained with strawberry jam, and those greasy sausage links, all kept warm in shiny silver pans. I always went back for extra pancakes with syrup and tiny glasses of orange juice.

When we didn’t want to go fancy at the Holiday Inn brunch, we could always head over to Denny’s. Since normally we had to eat really healthy at home, Denny’s was like cheating on health food. I always balanced my plate of sugary French toast and bacon with a big bowl of canned peaches, my personal favorite kind of fruit.

This Easter, whether you make it to church on time or don’t go to church and opt to sleep in, wake up to a delicious brunch. This recipe is like a buffet in a crockpot: eggs, bread, cheese and sausage ready to go as soon as you are. And the best news for this year? Daylight savings time is not on Easter.

Serves/Makes: 8

• 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
• prepared mustard, as needed
• 14 slices bread
• 2 1/2 cups grated cheddar or monterey jack cheese
• 12 eggs
• 2 1/4 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper