Holiday Strata
from the kitchen of Wendy Connelly
ingredients:
1 loaf French bread, cut into small cubes (I prefer the take-n-bake breads, from HyVee, baked according to package directions)
2 c cheese (cheddar or Swiss)
1/2 c Parmesan cheese
6 eggs
2 c milk
butter/margarine
*Christmas Strata Addt'l Ingred.: 1 lb. Jimmy Dean hot sausage & 1 chopped red pepper, sauteed together, and 1/2 c. green onion
*Easter Strata Addt'l Ingred.: 2 c. chopped asparagus, 1/2 c. mushrooms, and 1 small yellow onion sauteed together, and 1 c. cut up ham (great with ham leftovers)
directions:
Butter or spray bottom of 9x13" pan. Add half the bread slices, all of the *Christmas/Easter ingredients, 1 1/2 c. cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Top with remaining bread and remaining 1/2 c. cheese. In a separate bowl, beat together 6 eggs with 2 c. milk. Add salt/pepper to taste. Pour eggs mixture evenly over bread, press down to moisten. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours and up to 24 (I usually make this the night before a big holiday so it's ready in the morning).
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake uncovered 40 minutes.
