January 31, 2010

Brunch Strata


Brunch is a really challenging meal to host because so many things you serve have to be done at the very last minute -- eggs, pancakes, french toast.

I was hosting a small brunch party today and went in search of something I could prepare in advance and leave to bake while I was entertaining. Enter the brunch strata.

Strata is like a breakfast casserole. It's wholesome and hearty, healthy and delicious. And you can prepare it in advance and watch it bake while you're enjoying a mimosa. What could be better?

Here's the recipe I used this morning and it was a hit!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup chopped zucchini
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1 cup chopped red pepper
  • 1 cup bacon/ham/sausage -- whatever you have on hand
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup oil
  • 1 pkg cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup cream
  • 2 cups day-old cubed bread
  • 6 eggs
Directions

  • Cube bread about the size of large croutons and leave out overnight
  • Prepare veggies


  • Cook the meat, drain and set aside

  • Sautee veggies in oil and garlic, drain and set aside



  • In a mixer, combine cream cheese with cream until smooth
  • Add eggs and mix
  • Add bread crumbs, veggies, meat and cheddar cheese and mix
  • Pour into greased 11 x 7 pan

  • Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour
  • Let cool for about 10 minutes
  • Serve!
(this is it baked, but I couldn't take a picture before the vultures got at it!)



4 comments:

  1. linds -- this looks awesome! does it taste like eggs though?
    xxoo
    erin

    ReplyDelete
  2. No, it doesn't taste like eggs at all. And every bite had some veggie or cheese deliciousness to it, so it was never just bites of egg. mmmm....

    ReplyDelete
  3. This one I'm going to try, but I don't like mushrooms, can you recommend a substitute?

    ReplyDelete
  4. If there's anything in there you don't like, just omit it. You could always add a yellow or orange pepper, asparagus, even broccoli would be delicious!

    ReplyDelete

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