Breakfast Strata Easy Recipe For A Brunch Crowd

EASY BREAKFAST STRATA

Steps:

• Place bread cubes in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large skillet, cook and crumble sausage with pepper and onion over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, place sausage mixture over bread. Sprinkle with cheese., In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, mustard and milk; pour over top. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove strata from refrigerator while oven heats., Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

IMPOSSIBLY EASY BREAKFAST BAKE (CROWD SIZE)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish. Cook sausage, bell pepper and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink; drain. Stir together sausage mixture, potatoes and 1 1/2 cups of the cheese in baking dish.
• Stir Bisquick™ mix, milk, pepper and eggs until blended. Pour into baking dish.
• Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 1 to 2 minutes longer or just until cheese is melted. Cool 5 minutes.

EASY STRATA AND VARIATIONS

Steps:

• Saute mushrooms in 1 tablespoon of oil. Season with salt and set aside.
• Whisk half-and-half, eggs, salt and pepper until smooth. Spray a 9-by-13-inch Pyrex or ceramic baking dish with vegetable cooking spray.
• Line bottom with 6 slices of bread. Scatter half of the ham, and half of the mushrooms over the bread, then sprinkle with half of the scallions and cheese. Pour 1 cup of egg mixture over the top. Repeat layers with remaining bread, ham, mushrooms, cheese and scallions. Slowly pour remaining egg mixture evenly over top. Cover with plastic wrap, then weight down casserole with 3 16-ounce cans for at least 15 minutes to submerge ingredients. (Can be refrigerated overnight, but return to room temperature before baking.)
• Adjust oven rack to middle position. Bake in preheated 325-degree oven until custard is just set, about 50 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil until strata is spotty brown and puffy (watch carefully), about 5 minutes longer. Let stand for 8 to 10 minutes, then serve immediately.

BREAKFAST STRATA: EASY RECIPE FOR A BRUNCH CROWD

Steps:

• Butter a standard (9x13) casserole dish. Combine eggs, milk, cream, herbs and parmesan or romano thoroughly (If you're using whole milk you don't need the cream--just replace it with more milk). Heat a tablespoon or so of oil in a medium skillet. Sauté the sausage over medium-high heat until browned. Remove from pan. Add a little bit more oil and the shallots or scallions and the pepper. Sauté until slightly softened. Combine with sausage. Assemble the strata. Place a layer of bread slices on the bottom of the dish. Tear little bits off extra slices to fill in gaps. Cover with half the sausage/pepper mixture. Pour half the egg mixture over and than sprinkle on half the cheese. Repeat. Top with cherry tomatoes. Cover and refrigerate until needed, at least 20 minutes. Uncover and bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes to 1 hour. Variation Ideas: Mediterranean strata: Use a combination of artichoke hearts, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese and other Mediterranean ingredients. Swiss strata: How about onions, mushrooms, spinach and Swiss cheese? Simple strata: Steamed broccoli and tomatoes.