Brunch Seafood Strata

CRAB STRATA

Steps:

• Spray 2-quart casserole with cooking spray. In casserole, mix bread cubes, crabmeat, cheeses, capers and onions.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs with wire whisk. Beat in milk, sherry, mustard and Worcestershire sauce; pour over bread mixture. Cover tightly; refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Bake uncovered about 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with additional onions and bell pepper.

BRUNCH STRATA

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the vegetables and ham; cook and stir until vegetables are tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain and pat dry. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and cream until smooth. Gradually beat in eggs. Stir in the remaining ingredients and vegetable mixture., Transfer to two greased 11x7-in. baking dishes. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

BREAKFAST STRATA

Steps:

• Generously grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir sausage until crumbly and completely browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer cooked sausage to the prepared casserole dish.
• Cook and stir mushrooms in the same skillet over medium heat until liquid has been released and mushrooms are lightly browned, 5 to 10 minutes; drain.
• Mix mushrooms, eggs, bread, milk, Cheddar cheese, ham, spinach, flour, mustard powder, salt, butter, and basil together in a large bowl; pour over sausage. Cover casserole dish and refrigerate, 2 hours to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until a knife inserted into the center of the strata comes out clean, 60 to 70 minutes.

CARRIE'S BRUNCH SEAFOOD STRATA (12 SERVINGS)

Steps:

• Directions Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large skillet melt margarine or butter; cook leeks for 3 minutes or until tender. Tear tortillas into bite-size pieces. In the baking dish layer half of the tortilla pieces, half of the leeks, half of the shrimp and crabmeat, half of the cheese, and half of the chopped dill. Repeat layers. In a bowl beat together eggs, milk, flour, and pepper until smooth. Pour egg mixture over strata; cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F. oven about 50 minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean and top is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve. Garnish with additional shrimp and fresh dill, if desired. Makes 12 servings. Make-Ahead Tip: Up to 24 hours ahead, prepare casserole. Cover and chill. To serve, bake as directed.

SAVORY STRATA

Steps:

• Whisk together milk, eggs, 1/4 teaspoon salt, Tabasco and nutmeg. Strain through a fine mesh sieve.
• Heat oil in a medium skillet. Add leeks, and toss to coat with oil. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 4 to 5 minutes or until leeks are soft. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cool.
• Mix together ricotta, Parmesan, pepper and herbs. Stir in the cooled leeks.
• Grease a roasting pan 9 by 12 by 2 1/2 inches with 1 teaspoon butter. Lay 6 slices of bread in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the ricotta-leek mixture. Repeat with a second layer. Place the last layer of bread in the pan, and spread the top with the softened butter.
• Pour the custard over the bread, gently pressing top slices into the mixture. Place on a cookie sheet, wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic, and sprinkle the top with the cheese. Place in a larger pan, and put on the middle rack of oven. Fill the larger pan with boiling water to come up about halfway on the smaller pan. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours, or until puffy and brown. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

EASY BREAKFAST STRATA

Steps:

• Place bread cubes in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large skillet, cook and crumble sausage with pepper and onion over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. With a slotted spoon, place sausage mixture over bread. Sprinkle with cheese., In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, mustard and milk; pour over top. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove strata from refrigerator while oven heats., Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Let stand 5 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 350°. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.