Shelly's Recipe

STRATA with Variations

Category: Breakfast and Brunch

5 cups cubed French bread (with crust)
Grated cheese (see Variations below)
10 large eggs
1 quart whole milk
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp salt
Filling Ingredients (see Variations below)
Butter for greasing baking dish

Butter a 13x9-inch baking dish. Place bread cubes in the dish and sprinkle them with the cheese.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, mustard and salt (use an immersion blender or whisk). Pour the mixture over the bread cubes. Sprinkle the filling ingredients over the egg mixture and fold them in gently. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.

Heat the oven to 350 . Uncover the baking dish and bake for 60 minutes, until the mixture has puffed up slightly and is golden brown on top, and the stratum doesn't shimmy with uncooked custard when you shake the pan. Tent the dish with foil if the top is browning too quickly. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve by the spoonful using a large serving spoon. Serves 8

Strata Variations:

Sprinkle 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese over the bread cubes. Distribute 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon (6 to 8 strips), 1 cup sauteed sliced white or shiitake mushrooms and 1 cup chopped tomatoes over the egg mixture.

Sprinkle 2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese over the bread cubes. Distribute 1 cup frozen corn kernels, 1 cup cooked broccoli florets, two 4.5-ounce cans (drained) chopped green chilies and 1/2 cup shredded cooked chicken over the egg mixture.

Sprinkle 2 cups grated Swiss cheese over the bread cubes. Distribute 1 cup blanched asparagus pieces, 1 cup cubed ham and 1 cup sliced caramelized onions over the egg mixture.

Sprinkle 1 cup crumbled blue cheese over the bread cubes. Distribute 1 cup cooked cubed celery root, 1 cup sauteed sliced zucchini and 1/2 cup sauteed onions over the egg mixture.

Sprinkle 2 cups Fontina cheese over the bread cubes. Distribute 1 cup frozen chopped spinach, 1 cup Italian salami (cut into matchsticks) and 1/2 cup roughly chopped roasted garlic cloves over the egg mixture.