Wake up Casserole

My four kids went to visit my aunt and uncle in Wisconsin and came home ranting and raving about this great breakfast! I convinced my aunt to send the recipe and it is so easy and yummy! Also so easy to adapt to whatever you have in the fridge, onions, mushrooms, broccoli, sausage, etc!

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 8  frozen hash brown patties
• 4  cups  shredded cheddar cheese (I never use all cheddar preferring to mix cheeses)
• 1  lb  fully cooked  cubed ham (2 cups)
• 10  eggs
• 1  cup half-and-half cream (I just use 2% milk)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground mustard
•  pepper
• 1  cup  crisp diced bacon (optional)

Directions

1. Place hash brown patties in 13x9 greased casserole.
2. Sprinkle with cheese, and ham.
3. In a bowl, beat eggs, half-and-half, salt and mustard well.
4. Pour over ham.
5. Sprinkle with pepper and bacon if desired.
6. Cover.
7. At this point it can be refrigerated and baked in the morning.
8. Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes covered, (I have have baked at 400°F for 30 minutes also).
9. Uncover and bake additional 15 minutes or longer until edges are golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean.
10. Cool slightly and cut around the hash brown patties to serve.