Challah.....

There is a holiday tradition I have wanted to start with my family for years, but it has always managed to be interrupted.  You see, when I was growing up, my family had "dinner" together around noon.  Waiting for hours to take your first bite, then eating a heavy meal of ham and mashed potatoes so early in the day made me feel lethargic and sometimes slightly disoriented.  So, I have always wanted to replace that idea with a lighter brunch served a little earlier.
This year I got to work on Christmas eve.  I made sausage ball dough, made a custard for french toast, and even made a homemade loaf of challah. I am a cheater.  I own a bread machine, and utilized the dough function to create this beautifully sweet, moist, eggy dough, but I kneaded it myself and braided it as well.  Then I sliced it up to dry out overnight.
We had a delightful Christmas brunch of delicious challah french toast, cheesy sausage balls, crispy bacon, and wonderful little bite-sized fritata cups.  We weren't so stuffed we couldn't move, but we remained satiated until the big family dinner was served.  When I finally did sit down to our large, overindulgent dinner, I only ate one plate compared to everyone else's two or three, because I wasn't starving.
Not only was our Christmas brunch delicious and satisfying, it was heartwarming too.  That's what I call good eats.