Seafood Strata

SEAFOOD STRATA WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cut each slice of bread into 4 triangles. Place them on a baking sheet, and bake for about 10 minutes, or until toasted. Allow to cool, then spread pesto onto one side of each piece of bread. Set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms; cook and stir until all of the liquid has evaporated. Add the onions; cook and stir for a couple of minutes, then pour in the sherry. Simmer for 1 minute.
• Place half of the bread triangles into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish with the pesto side facing up. Sprinkle half of the cheese over the bread. Spread the shrimp and crabmeat over the cheese. Top with the mushroom and onion mixture, then sprinkle all but 1/2 cup of the remaining cheese over the mushrooms. Cover with the other half of the bread so that the pesto side is facing down. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, salt, and cayenne pepper. Pour over the entire casserole. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator for one hour before baking.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Combine the 1 cup of reserved cheese with the panko crumbs in a plastic bag. Shake to blend, and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
• Bake uncovered for 55 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh tomato and basil or chives.

EVERYTHING BAGEL STRATA

Steps:

• Make the strata: Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Combine the cream cheese and eggs in a blender and blend until smooth. Add the milk and parmesan and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Add the dill and blend a few seconds, then blend in the lemon zest.
• Transfer the custard to a large bowl. Add the bagel pieces and mix to coat, pressing on the bagels to totally submerge them in the custard. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight, pressing on the bagels a few times.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚. While it heats, remove the strata from the refrigerator, uncover and place on a baking sheet. Bake until puffed and lightly golden brown around the edges and just set in the center, about 40 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes.
• Make the caper relish: Combine the capers, dill, tomatoes and onion in a bowl. Season with a touch of salt and pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
• To serve, cut the strata into large round circles (like a bagel!) and place on plates. Top with the smoked salmon and relish.

SEAFOOD AND ARTICHOKE STRATA

Steps:

• Beat eggs well and stir in milk, cream,basil, cayenne, and a dash of salt and pepper. Grease a 9x13 pan (glass preferred) with butter. Add bread cubes to pan in a single layer. Cover bread cubes with egg mixture and refrigerate for two hours. Saute onion in butter and olive oil until almost tender, add garlic and a dash of salt and pepper. Set aside to cool. Add crabmeat, shrimp, and artichokes to onion mixture. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove egg and bread mixture from cooler and let warm for about a half hour. Place a layer of cheddar cheese over the egg and bread mixture. Spread the seafood and onion mixture over the cheddar cheese layer. Place one layer of tomatoes over the seafood and onion mixture, Sprinkle the parmesean and romano mixture over the tomatoes and top with the remainng cheddar cheese. Drizzle olive oil over the top, if desired. Cover the pan with aluminum foil, place in oven, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue to bake another 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool for five minutes. Serve. Enjoy!

BEACH HOUSE SEAFOOD STRATA

Steps:

• Cube bread and place in large Pammed 11 x 13" casserole dish. Mix in sliced vegetables. Spread seafood salad evenly over top, working gently down to bottom. Spread cheese over top. Mix eggs, milk and mustard. Pour over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Should be golden brown and bubbly. Cut into squares.

BRUNCH SEAFOOD STRATA

Steps:

• 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.