Hello, My Darlings!
Santa and I are completely immersed in preparing for Christmas—can you believe it’s only 87 days away? That means just 86 days until Santa’s big night! The excitement builds more with each passing day, and though there is so much to be done, this is truly our favorite time of year.
The snow has begun to fall here at the North Pole, and our short autumn season has already come to an end. I know many of you have been curious since our end of summer harvest blog post, about how we can have four seasons here at the top of the world. I promise I’ll share that little secret with you soon in a future post—be sure to stay tuned! For now, the decorations are up, and the spirit of Christmas is everywhere and we have so much work to do before!
Santa’s Naughty and Nice List: No Rumor Here!
One of Santa’s most important tasks this time of year is going over his naughty and nice list, that list is no rumor! Santa has kept a naughty and nice list for as long as he’s been doing this job—and my darlings, that is a very long time indeed!
As Santa was working on his list the other day, I managed to take a picture of him hard at work. Isn’t it a wonderful shot? It reminded me of one Christmas several years back, when Herman, the elf who oversees the workshop, gave Santa a tablet to try and streamline the whole process. Herman swore it would make things easier, but it turned out to be quite the fiasco! Santa wasn’t a fan, and after that, he avoided computers altogether for a while.
These days, Santa does use computers for certain tasks, but when it comes to the naughty and nice list, he sticks to the old-fashioned way—pen and paper. If I can find that photo of Santa trying the tablet, I’ll share it with you in an upcoming post. If not, I’m sure you’ll enjoy more stories about Santa’s adventures here at the North Pole!
Helping Santa Put the Pounds Back On
With all the excitement and preparations for Christmas, I’ve also been hard at work trying to put some weight back on Santa. During our short summer, he always manages to slim down a bit, but now that we’re back in full swing, I’m making sure he’s well-fed and ready for his Christmas Eve journey.
Mrs. Claus’s Famous Breakfast Casserole
One of my favorite ways I keep Santa’s belly full is with my Breakfast Casserole. Though it’s traditionally a morning meal, we enjoy it any time of day, especially when things are busy in the workshop.
Here’s the recipe for you to try at home:
Ingredients:
- 1 homemade biscuit crust: recipe below (you can use store-bought if you’re short on time)
- 6 large eggs (Santa always prefers our fresh eggs)
- 1 lb of sausage (or bacon, if you like or both!)
- 1 cup of buttermilk (or regular milk if you don’t have butter milk)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup of shredded cheese (cheddar is our favorite)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a skillet, cook the sausage (or bacon) until browned, then drain the fat.
- Prepare the biscuit crust and press it into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the cooked sausage (or bacon) over the biscuit crust.
- Pour the egg mixture over the sausage/bacon.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the eggs are set. Sprinkle grated cheese over top, put back in oven for 5 more minutes until melted.
- Let it cool slightly before serving.
This casserole is perfect for those busy mornings when I need something quick and hearty. I often prepare it the night before so that all I have to do is heat up a slice for Santa before he heads out the door. It’s delicious and so easy—perfect for any meal of the day!
Light and Flaky Homemade Biscuit Crust
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed
- ¾ cup cold buttermilk (or substitute with regular milk and 1 tablespoon vinegar, let sit for 5 minutes)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) if you’re using this for the Breakfast Casserole recipe.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the cold butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Slowly pour in the cold buttermilk and gently stir with a fork until the dough just holds together.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently knead it a few times. Pat the dough into a 1-inch thick rectangle.
- Press the dough into the bottom of your greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Proceed with the Breakfast Casserole recipe as directed.
This biscuit crust bakes up flaky and buttery, the perfect base for a hearty meal.
Until Next Time
Well, darlings, that’s all I have for you today. There’s much more to share about life here at the North Pole, so stay tuned for more stories, recipes, and even a few secrets from Santa’s workshop. I can’t wait to continue this festive journey with you!
With love and Christmas cheer,
Mrs. Claus