This coming Sunday is Easter and, for many people, that holiday will involve a brunch feast. Help make it a low fuss event with this breakfast strata - think egg and bread casserole - that's mostly prepared in advance and then assembled and baked later. Preloading the heavy lifting leaves you free to tend to other parts of your meal or relax a bit with a cup of coffee and your favorite baked goods.
If you want to use ingredients in your strata that aren't listed here, feel free. Cooked, crumbled bacon or breakfast sausage instead of ham? Sure. Chopped red onions instead of green? Go for it. Spice things up with jalapeños instead of sweet peppers. And feel free to play with the kinds of cheese you use to top this beauty. Just keep the bread and egg base as is and play around a little with the flavors you add to it.
I love serving this morning casserole with fresh fruit and muffins, scones, or pastries as part of a breakfast buffet. You could opt to have two different morning casseroles to choose from plus all the sides, hot coffee and tea, orange juice and mimosas, and maybe even a light green salad and call it a holiday morning brunch. Enjoy!
Ham & Cheese Strata
- 6 eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 5 cups cubed bread
- 1 ½ cups cubed ham
- 1 ½ cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
- 1 sweet pepper, finely chopped
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Whisk the eggs, milk, mustard, and seasonings together in a large bowl. Add the cubed bread and stir gently so all of the bread is covered.
Stir in the ham, spinach, pepper, and green onions.
Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.
Add the mixture to a greased 8x8 inch baking dish and sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the top of the dish. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 50-60 minutes. Allow casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Yields: 4-6 servings
- Preparation Time: 90 minutes plus chilling time