Making Spirits and Budgets Bright with Feasts: Breakfast

By More Food

Welcome back to the final part of making Spirits and Budgets Bright! A gathering does not have to be in the evening and can sometimes be what starts our day. Breakfast and brunch dishes are easy to share and these dishes are all easy to make ahead of time. Leaving you plenty of time to sleep in and focus on other tasks.

Today we are shopping at ALDI. A discount grocery store that uses private label companies so their products are often more affordable. Purchasing baking ingredients like flour, sugar and spices from ALDI is a great way to save a few extra dollars this holiday season.

Today’s featured recipes are: Lemon Blueberry Bread, Breakfast Casserole and Baked Oatmeal

Note for readers: the cost-per-dish is going off shopping for the entire recipe. Before going to the store always check what you have in your pantry to avoid overspending. Many of these ingredients can also be used in multiple recipes so think about what ingredients have versatility (spices, produce, canned goods, etc.) and if needed, swap with what you have on hand.

Shopping list prices were obtained from https://www.aldi.us/. Prices and availability are subject to change depending on location.

ALDI Corporation. ALDI – Official Website. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.aldi.us/. Accessed November 26th

Lemon Blueberry Bread 

If you are looking for a quick bread that pairs well with a hot coffee or tea this bread is sweet, tart and comes together in an hour look no further than this lemon blueberry bread. Loaves like this are easy to share with a group of friends or enjoy over the course of a week.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup white sugar
  • ⅓ cup melted butter
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
  • ½ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest
  • Glaze Topping:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Lightly grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan.
  2. To make the batter: beat sugar, butter, eggs and lemon juice together in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl.
  4. Stir into egg mixture alternately with milk.
  5. Fold in blueberries, nuts and lemon zest. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes.
  7. Cool bread in the pan for ten minutes.
  8. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze topping: stir powdered sugar and lemon juice together in a small bowl until smooth.
  9. Remove blueberry bread from the pan and drizzle with glaze.
  10. Continue to cool on a wire rack.

Nutrition

Servings: 1 slice, 1/3 to ½ inch slice

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 276mg | Sugar: 28g |

Mama’s Cafe, “Lemon Blueberry Bread,” Allrecipes, last modified May 2, 2025, Accessed November 26th, 2025 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/24843/lemon-blueberry-bread/.

Shopping List

  • Bakers Corner, Granulated Sugar, 4lb: $3.19 
  • Countryside Creamery Unsalted Butter Sticks, 1lb: $3.29
  • Goldhen Grade A Large White Eggs, 1 dozen: $2.19
  • Nature’s Nectar 100% Lemon Juice, 32 fl oz: $2.55
  • Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour, 5lb: $2.19
  • Baker’s Corner Baking Powder, 8.1 oz: $2.05
  • Stonemill, Iodized Salt, 26 oz: $0.75
  • Friendly Farms, 1% Milk, 64 fl oz: $1.59
  • Season’s Church Frozen Blueberries, 24oz: $3.95
  • Southern Grove Chopped Walnuts, 8oz: $3.09
  • Baker’s Corner Powdered Sugar, 32 oz: $2.09

Subtotal: $26.93  (if you are receiving SNAP this is what you would pay when using your EBT card!)

Post-tax total: $28.92

Cost per serving: $0.31 per slice

Ham and Potato Casserole

A hearty breakfast can get your day off on the right note and casserole dishes are easy to freeze so you can make them a few days or weeks ahead and just pop them in the oven when you are ready to eat. This dish uses deli ham but if you have any leftover ham from dinner the night before, that will also work here!

Ingredients

  • 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup milk 2% recommended[CLB1] 
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Pepper to taste
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 2 pounds Russet potatoes peeled & diced, see note
  • 2 cups diced cooked ham

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 °F with the rack placed at the middle position.
  2. Meanwhile, in a medium prep bowl, mix the cream of chicken soup, milk, sour cream, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, pepper and half of the cheddar cheese together.
  3. Add the potatoes and ham to a 9×13 casserole dish.
  4. Pour the sauce mixture over top of the ham and potatoes, then stir and arrange it in an even layer.
  5. Cover the casserole tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  6. Take the foil off, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the potatoes are tender.
  7. Let it sit for five to ten minutes prior to serving.

Nutrition

Makes 8 servings

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 911mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

Natasha Bull, “Easy Ham and Potato Casserole,” Salt & Lavender, last updated February 15, 2025, Accessed November 26th, 2025 https://www.saltandlavender.com/easy-ham-and-potato-casserole/.

Shopping List

  • Chef’s Cupboard Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, 10.5 oz: $0.79
  • Friendly Farms 2% Milk, 64 fl oz: $1.59
  • Friendly Farms Light Sour Cream, 16oz: $1.99 
  • Burmans Steak Sauce, 10fl oz: $2.19
  • Stonemill Garlic Powder, 3.12 oz: $1.09
  • Stonemill Onion Powder, 2.62 oz: $1.09
  • Stonemill Smoked Paprika, 2.62 oz: $1.09
  • Happy Farms Sharp Cheddar Cheese Block, 8oz: $1.99
  • Baking Potatoes, 5lb: $3.19
  • Black Forest Ham, 2lb: $6.79

Pre-tax cost: $21.80 (if you are receiving SNAP this is what you would pay when using your EBT card!)

Post tax: $23.79

Cost per serving:  $0.83

Baked Oatmeal

Baked oatmeal is easy to assemble and is versatile with endless mix-ins. This recipe uses dried cranberries but you can add different dried[CLB2]  or canned fruits, nuts and seasonings to make it your own.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup brown sugar, or to taste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup melted butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¾ cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
  2. Mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Beat in eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla extract. Stir in dried cranberries.
  4. Spread into a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden, about 40 minutes.
  6. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Makes 8 servings

Calories 393| Fat 15 g |Saturated fat 8g| Carbs 59 g | Fiber 4g| Sugars 36 g |Protein 72 g| Sodium 502 mg

BLANCHL, “Baked Oatmeal,” Allrecipes, last modified October 21, 2025, Accessed November 26th, 2025 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/51013/baked-oatmeal-ii/.

Shopping List:

  • Friendly Farms 2% Milk, 64 fl oz: $1.59
  • Millville Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, 42 oz: $4.29
  • Baker’s Corner Light Brown Sugar, 32oz: $2.09 
  • Stonemill Ground Cinnamon, 2.37 oz: $1.09
  • Baker’s Corner Baking Powder, 8.1 oz: $2.05 [CLB3] 
  • Stonemill Iodized Salt, 26 oz: $0.75
  • Goldhan Grade A Large White Eggs, 1 dozen: $2.19
  • Countryside Creamery Unsalted Butter Sticks, 1lb: $3.29
  • Stonemill Pure Vanilla Extract, 2fl oz: $2.79
  • Southern Grove Dried Cranberries, 6oz: $1.89

Pretax: $22.02 (if you are receiving SNAP this is what you would pay when using your EBT card!)

Post tax: $23.78

Cost per serving: $1.24

Feasts are a time for joy, connection and delicious food but it doesn’t mean you have to spend more than you have. These dishes are to help create easy and accessible recipes that keep your budget in check so you can enjoy this season to the fullest.

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