Christmas Strata

We love to prepare this Christmas Eve, put it in the fridge overnight for all the flavors to soak together, then pop it in the oven while the presents are being opened Christmas morning.

1 lb ground sausage
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
4-6 slices bread
dash pepper
6 eggs
2 cups milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dry mustard

Spray 9 x 13 pan. Tear bread & layer in pan with sausage & cheese. Beat eggs, mix with remaining ingredients. Pour over bread mixture. When ready, bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

Merry Cherry Christmas Fudge

*This recipe was submitted by Rosemarie Swallow

Cooking spray

36 maraschino cherries with stems

1 Package (12 oz) Semi Sweet chocolates morsels

6 -1 oz squares bittersweet baking chocolate chopped

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk

1 tsp maraschino cherry juice

1 cup chopped pecans

Melt chocolates in double boiler or in microwave (stirring every 30 seconds) until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and cherry juice to chocolate mixture. Then stir in chopped pecans. Lightly spray an 8 in square pan with cooking spray and spoon in chocolate mixture. Dry cherries with a paper towel and place them in chocolate with tops of cherries and stems still showing. Cover and chill until chocolate settles and becomes firm. Cut fudge into 36 pieces. Keep refrigerated in air tight container.