OK - this might be only the second time I've shared recipes on the blog, ha! We know I'm not a cook but this breakfast casserole is one thing I can make and it's fab. And of course, there's nothing better than a Bloody Mary while opening presents on Christmas morning. Matching PJs are also a must, and for today's Live we wore Petite Plume: this is my nightgown and here is Amos' set. Below the recipes, I've also bulleted out some of the tips and tricks that we shared for styling your Christmas table. Lots of fun ideas for updating Grandma's holiday china. Thank you so much for joining us this morning; we had a blast and are so grateful to y'all for stopping by!

CHEESE AND SAUSAGE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients

8 white bread slices, buttered

1 pound bulk pork sausage, crumbled and cooked (I buy the pre-made crumbled sausage in the cooler section)

2 cups grated sharp cheddar

10 large eggs

1 cup whole milk

1 cup half and half

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon salt

Dash of pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Grease 9x13 glass baking dish. Place bread in prepared dish with pieces slightly overlapped. Top with crumbled sausage and cheese.

3. Beat together eggs and remaining ingredients. Pour over sausage mixture.

4. Bake casserole until puffed and center is set, about 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.

5. You can also assemble casserole the day ahead and chill overnight in fridge. Bake as directed.

AMOS' BLOODY MARYS

Ingredients

3 cups tomato juice

3 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish

1 1⁄2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder

3⁄4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

3⁄4 teaspoon celery salt

1⁄2 teaspoon coarse black pepper

1⁄3 cup pickle juice

1 ounce vodka, per drink

Directions

1. In a blender combine the tomato juice, lemon juice, lime juice, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, pickle juice, and hot sauce and process until smooth.

2. Transfer to a nonreactive container and add celery salt and black pepper, to taste. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

3. When ready to serve, fill each glass with ice. Add 1 ounce of vodka to each glass, then fill the glass with the Bloody Mary mix.

4. Stir well, and garnish each glass with your favorite veggie, pickle, celery, pickled green bean, or a pickled okra.

TABLETOP INSPIRATION

A few weeks back I got a fabulous question about how to modernize older china patterns, such as Lenox and Spode, for the holidays. A lot of us probably have these pieces from our mothers and grandmothers, so Amos and I shared a few ideas for breathing new life into those "vintage" place settings:

Choose a charger and/or placemat in an updated shape, or one with some texture. We love anything metallic. Square accessories tend to read more modern, and we also played around with a red charger that has a pebbled/snakeskin texture.
For another option, Amos gathered some evergreen clippings from my yard and created beautiful “placemats” out of live greenery. Stack a charger and your dinner plate on top for a very impactful place setting.
Faux and preserved boxwood wreaths are always on sale this time of year, and you can use these as placemats (nestle your charger or dinner plate snugly in the center). It’s a very fun way to bring some pizzazz to your table.
If you’re using Grandma’s dinner plates for sentimental value, but aren’t necessarily in love with the pattern, we like setting the table with an interesting dessert plate stacked on top of the dinner plate (simply remove it to serve the meal). You could do some pattern play with plaid, stripes, or even a solid plate in a coordinating color.
Similarly, if you’re looking to cover some of a pattern you might not love, we’re all about a pretty napkin folded on top of the dinner plate, possibly with a little favor for added flourish (a pretty box of chocolates, candy canes tied together with a beautiful ribbon). You can also add a sprig of greenery and berries (real of faux) or use some of Hester & Cook’s fabulous table accents to add some oomph (these double as place cards).
In terms of resources, check out Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Hester & Cook, Crate & Barrel, Target, and Home Goods. It doesn’t have to be expensive to modernize your china! For Nashville locals, we also love the selection at Ash Blue.