Ep 172. Rach's Panettone French Toast + Emeril's Make-Ahead Christmas Morning Breakfast Bake

Rachael Ray welcomes chef Emeril Lagasse onto her show for the 172nd episode of season 14. The theme of the episode is Christmas morning breakfast, and the two chefs share their favorite recipes for the occasion.

Rachael begins by demonstrating how to make panettone French toast, a delicious and decadent breakfast dish that utilizes the traditional Italian holiday bread. She shows viewers how to make the batter for the French toast, which includes eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. She then slices the panettone into thick pieces and dips them into the batter before frying them in a hot skillet. Once the French toast is lightly browned and crispy, she serves it with a dollop of mascarpone cheese and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Next, Emeril takes over to share his recipe for a make-ahead Christmas morning breakfast bake. He starts by sautéing onions, bell peppers, and garlic in a skillet before adding crumbled breakfast sausage and cooking until the sausage is browned. He then adds a layer of cubed French bread to the bottom of a casserole dish before pouring in the sausage mixture and topping it with grated cheddar cheese. In a separate bowl, he whisked together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper before pouring the mixture over the casserole and refrigerating it overnight. In the morning, he bakes the casserole until it's golden brown and puffed up.

Throughout the episode, Rachael and Emeril share tips and tricks for making the perfect Christmas morning breakfast. They discuss the importance of having a make-ahead dish that can be prepped the night before, so that the cook can spend the morning relaxing with their family instead of slaving away in the kitchen. They also suggest pairing the breakfast dishes with mimosas or hot coffee for a festive touch.

In addition to the two main recipes, Rachael and Emeril also share a few side dishes and variations on the main dishes. Rachael demonstrates how to make a simple fruit salad with chopped apples, pears, and oranges mixed with a little honey and lemon juice. Emeril suggests adding green onions and diced tomatoes to the breakfast bake for some added freshness.

Overall, the 172nd episode of season 14 of the Rachael Ray show is a delicious and festive celebration of Christmas morning breakfast. Viewers will leave with plenty of inspiration for making a hearty and satisfying meal to start the holiday off right.