Breakfast Casserole

 New favorite casserole!!  I'm so glad I found this recipe.  I really liked it.  I got compliments on it from the girls, and Blake liked it, too.  I tweaked the original recipe a lot since the comments on the recipe all agreed on how to change it.  Here's what I did:

Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey (sage-flavored*, see directions for seasonings)
• 1 bag (or 4 cups) frozen hash browns with onion and pepper in it (Ore-Ida brand)
• 1/4 cup butter, melted - (or use spray butter over the hash browns)
• 12 ounces mild Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 (16 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese, reduced fat
• 8 large eggs

Directions

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch square baking dish.
2.  Place ground turkey in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown.  To make the turkey *sage-flavored* add these spices, then drain, and set aside:

• 2 tsp. ground ginger, 
• 2tsp ground sage
• 3/4tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Pinch of cayenne pepper, or Red Pepper flakes

3.  In the prepared baking dish, stir together the shredded potatoes and butter. Line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with the mixture. Bake for 30-40 min, or until potatoes are cooked.
4.   In a separate bowl, mix the turkey, Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, and eggs.
5.  Pour over the potato mixture. Sprinkle some more cheese lightly on top.
6.  Bake another 30 minutes, or until firm
7.  Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Verdict: I give it 4 out of 5 stars!!  I'll say, the sage flavor really makes the turkey taste like sausage but it's a whole lot better for you.  I loved the potatoes and all the flavors.  I think if you salt and pepper the eggs that would also help add some more taste to the egg part.  I liked that this casserole was mild, but flavorful.  And it didn't have to have real sausage-Yuck.