Barley Grits Breakfast Casserole with Apples and Brie

Out here in the wilds of New England, we get our fair share of weekend visitors, citified escapees who want to "see nature" and then head back to their apartments. Nature sometimes complies. A bear will roam through the yard; a hawk will scoop up a chipmunk.

Even if the show doesn't go on, breakfast does. Urban dwellers, country air--they add up to hearty appetites. So we've started making this barley grits casserole for breakfast, a great way to jump-start the day, to get a leg up on all that nature-viewing from our deck (not too far from the cocktails). It's a whole-grain meal that keeps our guests from scrounging in the bar or the fridge until past noon.

Here's how to do it:

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