Why Breakfast Is The Best Gift You Can Give To Your Next Meal Train
- Southerners show love and support through food, especially during times of grief, illness, or recovery.
Hold off on the chicken casserole this time.
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford
When something very good or very bad happens, Southerners tend to react in one of the only ways we know how—with food, and lots of it. If you've ever attended a funeral in the South , you've seen how platters of sandwiches and chocolate cakes somehow materialize in less time than they take to prepare. In the same way, if you've ever had a baby in the South, you've witnessed that no freezer can possibly contain the amount of chicken casseroles Mama'n'em thrust upon you. We can't help it. Sometimes words fail us, but a homemade meal is like a monologue of love. The Southern meal train is truly something to behold. And while we can bet that your grieving, sick, or recovering friend has more dinners than they could possibly eat, we're making the case for dropping by something for breakfast .
Why is it that "the most important meal of the day" gets forgotten during times of need? On the day of the funeral or the arrival home from a birth or a major surgery, dinner is covered. I promise. But the following morning, what's there to eat? Meal trains are all about comforting those we love, and what's more consoling than a warm breakfast after the house is empty and quiet again? Providing breakfast lets your friends and family know that you were thinking about future them. We're sharing some of our favorite breakfast recipes for meal trains that travel and freeze well. Be sure to include a bag of good coffee or a package of tea and written-out freezing, thawing, and reheating instructions when you drop them off.
Related: The Most Comforting Casseroles You Can Make For New Moms
Stuffed Ham-and-Cheese Croissant Casserole
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford
Their go-to breakfast sandwich order at the coffee shop just got a big-batch makeover with this all-new recipe that's cheesy and filling for the whole family.
Breakfast Enchiladas
Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
These filling enchiladas are great way to start the day, and the good news is that this dish makes plenty for leftovers the next day. Be sure to include toppings like cut tomatoes, cilantro, salsa, and green onions when you deliver the dish to the recipient.
Sheet Pan Pancakes
Jessica Furniss
Pancakes come together quickly when they're made on a sheet pan. No standing over the stove batch after batch for this recipe. Because of the large size, you can add different toppings to each section.
Cheese-and-Sausage Quiche
Will Dickey
Quiches are a great versatile option, as they're delicious at breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Serve this one with a simple fruit salad on the side to round out the meal.
Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
If you look at a Venn diagram of comfort food and breakfast food, sausage gravy and biscuits would be directly at the center. This casserole serves that familiar taste to a crowd from just one 13-x-9.
Apple Bread
Micah A. Leal
Use firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to hold up in this delightful quick bread. Slices make the perfect breakfast or snack.
Mini Hash Brown Frittatas
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Since these savory little breakfast bites are made in your muffin tin, the recipe is extremely easy to double or triple, depending on how many people you're feeding. Send over a batch ready to eat and one already frozen for them to enjoy later.
Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly
If the family your meal train is set up for is full of picky eaters, this is the recipe for you. We don't know anyone who has ever turned down a serving of tater tot casserole.
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Read the original article on Southern Living .
