Asiago Vegetable Strata Food

VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add asparagus; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Transfer to a large bowl., Repeat with an additional 1 teaspoon oil and zucchini; add to asparagus. In same pan, cook and stir corn, shallots and garlic in remaining oil until shallots are tender; stir in herbs, salt and pepper. Add to asparagus mixture; stir in bread cubes., Place half of mixture in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with 1-1/2 cups cheese. Repeat layers. In another bowl, whisk eggs and milk; pour over casserole. Sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour., Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: After assembling, cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake strata, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the broccoli until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, Parmesan, eggs, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl.
• Layer half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 cups of the Monterey Jack, followed by the mushrooms, broccoli, scallions and tomatoes. Cover with the remaining bread cubes and pour the egg mixture evenly over the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. (This can also be assembled the day of; just let soak at room temperature 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking.)
• On the day of baking, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Let the strata sit at room temperature while the oven preheats. Remove the plastic and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Monterey Jack. Bake until slightly puffed and just no longer jiggly in the center, 40 to 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

PANERA BREAD ASIAGO STRATA

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375*. Brush sides and bottom of a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with softened butter.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, cream, eggs, salt and pepper, and set aside.
• Cut asiago bread into 1/4" slices. Start assembly of the strata by placing one slice of bread on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp shredded asiago cheese on the bread slice. Cover with another slice of bread and sprinkle the same amount of cheese on top.
• Continue this pattern for two more slices then pour about one third of the custard on top. Return to building the strata for four more layers, then pour another third of the custard on. Build the strata until you have reached 1/4 inch from the top of the dish and finish off with remaining custard. Cover the strata and refridgerate 15 minute.
• Place the strata dish on a cookie sheet to catch any drips. Bake for about 45 min on the center rack of the oven. The custard should develop a rich, dark color and rise slightly from the pan. (It will settle back after removal from the oven.) Carefully remove from the oven and set aside to cool for about 15 minutes before unmolding.
• Carefully invert the strata by placing a 10 inch plate over the top of the dish. Slowly flip the plate and dish over together. Place on the counter and allow the strata to fall from the dish onto the plate. If the strata does not release from the dish, cut around the sides of the dish and try to invert again. Serve hot or warm as an accompaniment with meat and vegetables to fill out the meal.

MEDITERRANEAN SPINACH STRATA (COOKING LIGHT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Place bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion, garlic, and mushrooms; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Sprinkle flour over mushroom mixture; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 bag of spinach; cook 3 minutes or until spinach wilts. Add remaining spinach; cook 3 minutes or until spinach wilts. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Place half of bread slices in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spread spinach mixture over bread. Top with tomato slices; sprinkle evenly with feta and half of Asiago cheese. Arrange remaining bread slices over cheese. Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, milk, and remaining ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Pour over bread; sprinkle with remaining Asiago cheese. Cover and chill 8 hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Uncover strata; bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until lightly browned and set. Serve warm.

ASIAGO STRATA

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 375. Brush sides and bottom of 1 1/2 quart casserole dish with softened butter. In a large mixture bowl, whisk together milk, cream, eggs, salt and pepper, and set aside. Cut Asiago bread into 1/4" slices. Start assembly by placing one slice of bread on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle about 1/2 tsp of cheese on the bread slice. Cover with another slice of bread and sprinkle with the same amount of cheese on top. Continue this pattern for 2 more slices then pour about 1/3 of the egg mixture on top. Return to building the strata for 4 more layers then pour another 1/3 of the mixture on. Build the strata until you have reached 1/4" from the top of the dish and finish off with remaining egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Place on a cookie sheet and bake for about 45 minutes on the center rack. Strata should develop a dark, rich color an rise slightly in the casserole. Carefully remove from oven and set aside to cool for 15 min. Carefully invert the strata by placing a 10 inch plate over the top of the dish. Slowly flip the plate and dish over together. Place on counter and allow the strata to fall from the dish onto the plate. If the strata does not release from the dish, cut around the sides of the dish and try to invert again. Serve hot or warm as an accompaniment with meat and vegetables.

ROASTED VEGETABLE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Toss zucchini and peppers with oil and seasonings; transfer to a 15x10x1-in. pan. Roast until tender, 25-30 minutes, stirring once. Stir in tomato; cool slightly., Trim ends from bread; cut bread into 1-in. slices. In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, layer half of each of the following: bread, roasted vegetables and cheeses. Repeat layers. Whisk together eggs and milk; pour evenly over top. Refrigerate, covered, 6 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 375°. Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown, 40-50 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked casserole. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 375°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.