Hearty Breakfast Trail Mix

 

A hearty trail mix breakfast with cinnamon sugar croutons, bacon, pistachios, and cranberries is a perfect breakfast on-the-go. It also makes a great holiday gift when package it in a decorative mason jar.

      

I hope you all have had a good Thanksgiving and that the weather did not adversely affect your plans. Fortunately for us, the nor’easter was only a minor interference as it came in on Wednesday and our travel day was Thursday. We lucked out this time around. Thank goodness!

Now, it’s time to think about Christmas! It starts early in my household…thanks to my husband. He LOVES the holiday and enlists my help with decorating the Christmas tree the weekend BEFORE Thanksgiving every year. And every year, I never resist the opportunity make fun of his impatience. But it’s one of those little things in life that makes him happy, so I let it be. As for me, I love looking at the tree once it is up, but I hate the long-drawn-out, messy process required to accomplish the job. I just wish that someone invents an umbrella tree so that it could easily be opened an closed (with lighting and ornaments intact) with a push of a button. How great would that be? I would be the first one in line to get it! 

Moving onto food, I am excited to share this latest recipe with you! This breakfast trail mix, full of cinnamon sugar croutons, bacon, pistachios, and dried cranberries makes a perfect little gift that says “especially from me to you”. It’s a simple but personal token for a neighbor, coworker, teacher…or anyone who appreciates bacon and sweet croutons.

This trail mix is also a convenient, hearty breakfast for a family on-the-go. Made and packaged in advanced, it could easily be grabbed and snacked as everyone goes about their busy morning. It’s like eating a cinnamon toast and bacon breakfast without having to sit at the table. It is a convenient way to fill you up and keep you energized throughout the morning. 

As an added bonus, your house is going to smell amazing when you make this. Your kitchen is going to be perfumed with bacon, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Hmmm…I wonder if they have that combination of scents captured in a candle?  Going to have to check it out.

Try this one today! 

HEARTY BREAKFAST TRAIL MIX

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INGREDIENTS:

 

1 fresh French bread, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 8 cups)
6 tbsp. butter

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 scant tsp. ground cinnamon

1 (16 oz. pkg.) bacon

1 cup pistachios

1 cup dried cranberries

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. 

 

Place bread on a large baking sheet. Bake in oven for 4-6 minutes to slightly dry out. Remove from oven. Set aside. Increase heat to 350 degrees F.

 

While the bread bakes, place butter, olive oil, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small saucepan on medium heat. Cook stirring occasionally until butter melts and ingredients combine. Remove from heat and allow to cool a few minutes.

 

Drizzle butter mixture onto croutons making sure to cover as much surface area as possible. Mix, using hands to work the butter mixture into the croutons. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir croutons to ensure even browning. Bake for and additional 5 minutes or until croutons are crispy.  Cooking time may vary, if you need to bake it longer, be sure you check on it frequently. Remove and allow to cool on baking sheet.

 

While croutons bake, preheat large skillet on medium high heat. Cut bacon into 1/2-inch strips. Cook, stirring frequently until brown and crispy, about 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and place on paper towels to drain fat. Set aside to cool.

 

Mix together cooled croutons, bacon, cranberries, and pistachio in a large mixing bowl. Serve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Makes 6 servings.

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