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My mom and I were talking the other day about how different life would be if we lived a little closer to one another.

Right now, we live about 3 hours apart - close enough to definitely be able to drive and visit fairly often, but just far enough away that you can't exactly grab coffee together on a whim. But that's what we were talking about. It would be so fun to just be close enough to grab lunch together spontaneously! Or pop over for a glass of wine on the back deck. Or bribe her and my dad with cookies if they'd come help me unload a new sofa. Or do our grocery shopping together. You know, the random everyday things...together!

Sure, our time hanging out when they're here or I'm there is great. But we usually see each other over the course of a weekend or a few days back-to-back, and you can't help but feel the pressure to squeeze in All The Things while we're in the same city at the same time. It's like that with any long-distance relationships. And we both have major roots in both of our cities, so I don't see that changing anytime soon. So we talk a lot on the phone, enjoy our time together in person when we can, and make the most of it. You know, as you do 3 hours apart. :)

Sadly, I am tied up in Kansas City this Sunday and won't be able to make it to Wichita for Mother's Day this year. But you can bet your bottom dollar that if I lived there, I would love to sneak over to their house early in the morning and make her a surprise to start the day - this cheesy, sausage-y, potato-y, indulgent (and easy to prepare the night before!) easy breakfast casserole. She would be a little surprised, and she might make some comment about how it's not quite the light and healthy breakfast she usually eats, and then she would dive in.

Because that's what moms do. :)

Easy Cheesy Breakfast Casserole Recipe | 1-Minute Video

Yes, this casserole probably falls a little more on the "indulgent" side. But I have had sooo many requests over the years for a basic breakfast casserole. And on special occasions, or even just any ol' day when you feel like a hearty breakfast, this classic recipe is guaranteed to start your day off with a smile.

I have made it (or a version of it) countless times over the years whenever I need a quick and easy meal to serve a crowd. And I can attest that while it's a definite crowd-pleaser, it's also a cook-pleaser because it is super easy to make. If you don't want to wake up really early for breakfast, you can also prep it the night beforehand and then pop it in the oven the next day. Win for you, and a win for your guests (or your mama!).

The steps to make it are simple. Just brown up some sausage. (I highly recommend using "hot" Italian sausage, as it will help flavor the whole casserole.) Then saute some onions, garlic and a red pepper. (Or you can use a jar of roasted reds.) Add those together with some whisked eggs, milk and cheese, and toss it all with the potatoes until combined. Then pop it in a baking dish and cook until the potatoes are tender.

Then once it's nice and hot and bubbly and melted-cheesy, pull it out.

And top with some green onions, if you'd like some extra color. Or diced avocados would also be lovely.

Then dish it up (and discover those eggs that have settled to the bottom and baked).

And dive in, just like my mom would. ;)

So to my mom (who reads my blog faithfully each morning), happy early Mother's Day!!! I love you, and think you're still my #1 Mom, and will make this for you (for realz) the next time I see you. :)

And to all of you other mothers out there, my warmest wishes to you for a happy Mother's Day as well! You are changing this world every day, and we're all better because of you. Big hugs from KC to wherever you may be!

Easy Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Hashbrowns and Eggs

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Easy Cheesy Breakfast Casserole | Gimme Some Oven

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. My mom and I were talking the other day about how different life would be if we lived a little closer to one another.

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3-ingredient Mac & Cheese Recipe by Tasty

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Nothing says comforting and classic like mac and cheese. Remember when you were a little kid and you sat down at the dinner table? There it was: a glorious pot of mac and cheese. Ooey, gooey, and oh-so-delightful. Well, we’re taking you back there with our 3-ingredient mac-hack. That’s right: only t…

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Sweet-and-sour Chicken Noodles Recipe by Tasty

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Here's what you need: chicken breasts, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper, soy sauce, ketchup, cider vinegar, noodle, sesame seed

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This post may contain affiliate links. See my privacy policy for details.

13Sometimes you just want a simple sweet treat, and these date bars are the ultimate easy to make fix for those cravings! The crisp and buttery topping combined with the sweet filling makes these absolutely scrumptious.

I love this classic date bars recipe and I've been making it for the family ever since it was passed down to me from my Grandmother.

These bars are also the reason Mr Magpie married me, he claims, for a lifetime supply of date bars. So I taught him how to make them himself 😉 and he now has mastered this recipe, and has become the official date bars baker in the house.

If you're looking for the perfect sweet snack, you've found it. These date bars are naturally low in sugar and they go down just as well with a nice cup of tea after a long day too.Let's just say if you don't have a date with these date bars at least once a month, you're missing out!

Of course, this is a recipe for the date lovers out there, but I'm definitely one of them! I'm always looking for great ways to incorporate dates into my recipes, whether they're desserts or snacks.

A Date Bar By Any Other Name is Still a Date Bar!

(.... annnnd Shakespeare is definitely rolling in his grave right now.) Think you've never heard of date bars? You might be wrong. These tasty treats are sometimes referred to as matrimonial bars or date squares - but they're literally the same thing, and still my favorite thing!

Dates Are a Healthier Snack

Dates are a really healthy sweet snack and a much better option when you're tempted to reach for the chocolate! They're packed with fiber, full of energy, and a bit high in sugar and calories - but that's not always a bad thing if you're dealing with young picky eaters in your house!

Oh and if you're a fan of healthy date recipes you absolutely have to try my healthy banana date oatmeal breakfast cookies too!

You can replace the sugar with sweeteners that are a 1:1 replacement, and Splenda even has a brown sugar mix now! That would make these lower in sugar and a great treat!

How to Make Date Bars

1. Combine the filling ingredients in a pot and start simmering, stirring often until you have a smooth mixture.

2. Combine the sugar and butter to start the base and topping.

3. Add in the oats, flour, salt, and baking soda.

4. Press most of the crust mix into the bottom of a 9×9 pan but save some for the topping.

5. Pour the filling and spread it evenly.

6. Crumble the topping evenly across the filling.

7. Bake at 350 F until well browned on top, then cool and cut into pieces to make your date bars!

Which Dates Should You Use to Make Date Bars?

You can really use any dates for making these date bars but I tend to use dates that are chopped up and in a block form the most because they're the most affordable, easy to find in pretty much any store, and they have that delicious caramel taste that I love.

Going Gluten-Free? Check Your Oats

Date bars tend to be gluten-free but you'll need to check that the oats you're using aren't processed in a cross-contamination facility. If you want a gluten-free version of these bars, make sure that you specifically look for gluten-free oats.

Happy baking!

Love,

Karlynn

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1. Combine the ingredients for the filling into a small pot and start simmering over medium heat,, stirring often. You want to dissolve the dates and cook until it's a smooth mixture with very few lumps. Once this is finished remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Start the base and topping. Combine the sugar and butter together until creamy and combined thoroughly.

3. Add in the oats, flour, salt and baking soda. Mix together completely.

4. Press 2/3 of the crust mix into the bottom of a 9x9 pan, saving some for the topping.

5. Pour the filling on top of the bottom crust and spread it around evenly.

6. Crumble the remaining oatmeal mixture as a topping evenly across the filling.

7. Bake at 350 degrees until it's beautifully browned on top.

8. Cool it and then cut into pieces.

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This post may contain affiliate links. See my privacy policy for details. 13Sometimes you just want a simple sweet treat, and these date bars are the ultimate easy to make fix for those cravings! The crisp and buttery topping combined with the sweet filling makes these absolutely scrumptious.