Stress-free Strata

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 12 ounces sweet italian lamb sausage or 12 ounces turkey sausage, casings removed
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small red pepper, seeded and chopped
• 3 cups whole milk
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon . dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon italian herb seasoning or 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 10 -12 slices day-old firm bread, crusts trimmed
• 1 1/3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• 2 in large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat.
• 3 add sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until sausage begins to lose its pink color, about 4 minutes.
• 4 add onion and red pepper; cook until vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.
• 5 set aside.
• 6 in saucepan over medium heat (or in a glass measuring cup in microwave oven), heat milk until bubbles appear around edges.
• 7 in large bowl, whisk eggs, then gradually whisk in hot milk.
• 8 add mustard, italian seasoning, salt, pepper.
• 9 lightly butter 8- x 11-1/2-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish.
• 10 line bottom with some bread slices, trimming to fit as needed (use scraps to fill in gaps).
• 11 sprinkle with 1 cup cheese, then top with sausage mixture.
• 12 top with remaining bread slices, trimmed as needed.
• 13 slowly pour egg mixture over.
• 14 press bread down lightly to submerge.
• 15 sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup cheese.
• 16 place dish on baking sheet.
• 17 bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.
• 18 let stand for 10 minutes before serving.