I think many of the recipes we indulge in over the Holiday’s have been passed down for generations.  The problem is this:  Our Grandparents and Great-grandparents did not eat the way we eat YEAR ROUND!  Prior to the 1970′s High Fructose Corn Syrup did not even exist…now almost any food you purchase from the middle aisles of your grocery store have HFCS in it!  The preservatives, additives, chemicals, food-dyes and so forth were not abundant in the American diet like they are today.  As all of these ingredients have gone into our foods, our scales have GONE UP!

The point I am trying to make is that all of the indulgences that the generations before us relished in over the Holiday’s were just that-indulgences.  Today we over-indulge the majority of the time.

In our family Christmas morning has always meant an egg casserole, and let me tell you it is DELSIH!  But with sausage, cream, cheese, butter, and whole milk it is a killer.  The version I was able to find online that ADMITTED to the calories had a small piece with 600 calories, 178 mg cholesterol, and about 30 grams of fat!  And who eats a small piece?  Add in eggnog, mimosas and hot-buttered rum and I have gained a pound before 11am!

This year our Christmas Breakfast will be Italian Turkey Sausages, eggs done however each family member wants them, rustic bread for some thick, yummy toast, low-fat eggnog, fresh fruit, and yes mimosas (listen, even I have limits)!

I am not making an egg casserole because if I am honest the person who eats most of it is me as I pick at it all day long!  BUT if you like the tradition, (and have more restraint than I do) then this version will be gobbled up by all and at 400 calories a piece, 55 mg of cholesterol, and 14 grams of fat, it will leave a lot more room for more cocktails, and I know we all need those!!!

Eat Clean Egg Strata

INGREDIENTS

• 1 LB lean ground turkey
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 9 egg whites and 3 whole eggs
• Dash of Tabasco sauce
• 2 C skim milk
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 loaf sourdough breast, at least 16 slices with crusts removed
• 1 C low-fat Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 C diced fresh asparagus (I have also added diced tomatoes, other veggies, and a can of diced chilies-all of it yummy!)

DIRECTIONS

• Coat a 13X9 baking dish with cooking spray. 
• Heat oil in pan and cook turkey until no longer pink.  Season turkey with poultry seasoning, garlic powder, and ½ tsp sea salt.  Pour into a sieve and allow any fat to drain from the meat. 
• In a medium mixing bowl, mix eggs, ½ tsp sea salt, Tabasco, milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and pepper.  Using a wire whisk, beat egg mixture well until frothy.  Set aside.
• Arrange one layer of bread slices on the bottom of the baking pan.  Make sure to cover all places with bread.  Place half of the crumbled meat mixture on the bread.  Top with one half of the grated cheese and half of the onion and asparagus.  Repeat layer starting with bread.  There will be only two complete layers and will end with the grated cheese, onion, and asparagus. 
• Pour egg slowly over contents of the pan allowing the egg to absorb into the bread.  Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. 

IN THE MORNING:

• Preheat oven to 350.  Remove tin foil from strata.  Place in oven on center rack and bake for 60 minutes.  Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

1/8 of casserole =serving size

If you are at all worried this will not be AS good, then sprinkle yellow cheese over the whole thing…TRUST me you will still be coming in MILES ahead of the old version!

Remember it is hard for our kids to eat healthy foods if they are not available, so regardless of what your serve make sure there is plenty of fresh fruit and pitchers of ice-water available throughout the Holiday’s!

Cheers!