Raisin Bread Strata With Sausage And Dried Plums Food

HOLIDAY SAUSAGE STRATA

Steps:

• In a skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat, crumbling it with a spoon, until mostly brown but still a little pink, about 5 minutes. Drain on a paper towel; reserve the sausage fat separately.
• Butter both sides of the bread with the butter. Arrange half of the bread in 1 layer in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Top with half the sausage, followed by half the Gruyere. Repeat with another layer of the remaining bread, sausage and cheese.
• In a bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, 2 teaspoons of the salt and some pepper. Pour the mixture over the layers of bread, sausage and cheese. Cover in plastic wrap and weigh down the strata with a couple sacks of rice/beans in a zipper top bag to compress it. Refrigerate overnight.
• The morning of baking, remove the plastic wrap and weights. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Toss the broccoli with the reserved sausage fat, remaining 1 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Dot the top of the strata with the broccoli florets so the broccoli tops are still visible (to look like trees) but the stalks are submerged in the custard. Bake until the edges pull away from the dish and the center is puffed, about 45 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes. Right before serving, sprinkle with the Parmesan to mimic snow on trees.

RAISIN-BREAD STRATA WITH SAUSAGE AND DRIED PLUMS

Steps:

• Sauté sausage in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until brown and cooked through, breaking up with back of fork, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer sausage to bowl; cool.
• Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Arrange half of bread in bottom of prepared dish with bases of triangles facing in same direction. Scatter half of sausage, then half of plums over bread. Arrange remaining bread in dish with triangles facing in opposite direction. Scatter remaining sausage and plums over. Pour milk mixture over; press on bread to submerge. Cover; chill overnight.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Place strata on rimmed baking sheet. Bake uncovered until strata is puffed and golden and knife inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut strata into squares and serve with maple syrup.

RAISIN BREAD & SAUSAGE MORNING CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat 4-6 minutes or until no longer pink, breaking it into crumbles; drain. In a greased 13x9-in. baking dish, combine bread and sausage., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg until blended; pour over bread. Refrigerate, covered, several hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats. In a small bowl, beat topping ingredients until blended. Drop by tablespoonfuls over casserole., Bake, uncovered, 35-45 minutes or until golden brown and a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

APPLE RAISIN FRENCH TOAST STRATA

Steps:

• Coat a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange 1/2 of the cubed raisin bread in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the cream cheese evenly over the bread, and top with the apples. If you like extra raisins, add them now. Top with remaining bread.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the cream, butter, and maple syrup. Pour over the bread mixture. Cover with plastic wrap, and press down so that all bread pieces are soaked. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

CINNAMON RAISIN STRATA

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine butter and cinnamon; spread over one side of each slice of bread. Place four slices, buttered side up, in a greased 8-in. square baking dish (trim to fit if necessary). Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Repeat with remaining bread and brown sugar., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, syrup and vanilla; pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve with additional syrup.

SIMPLE SAUSAGE STRATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Arrange bread slices in single layer on bottom of 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray; top with sausage, vegetables and 1/2 cup cheddar.
• Beat eggs in medium bowl. Stir in cottage cheese; pour over ingredients in pan.
• Bake 25 min. Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar. Bake an additional 5 min. or until center is set. Let stand 10 min. before serving.

RAISIN CINNAMON STRATA

Steps:

• Spray 8x8 inch glass dish, add bread cubes& top with cream cheese, do two layers.
• Mix remaining and pour over bread& cheese.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• Bake 325 for 35-40 minutes.