Shirley Moms Cheese Strata Recipes

MOM'S FAVORITE CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Lightly grease casserole.
• Cut 3 slices of bread into 3 strips each. Fit into casserole. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and 1/3 of the onion.
• Add 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat layers two more times.
• Beat eggs, add milk, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Pour over bread mixture.
• Allow to set in the refrigerator overnight.
• Take out 2 hours before baking.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit, then bake for 50 minutes.

FLUFFY STRATA RECIPE (OVERNIGHT BREAKFAST CASSEROLE)

Steps:

• Set out a large mixing bowl and a 9X13 inch (3 quart) baking dish. Grease the baking dish. Chop all necessary ingredients.
• In the mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, salt, ground mustard, and garlic powder. Whisk well to break up all the yolks. Then stir in the cheeses, ham, scallions, and roasted red pepper.
• Tear the bread loaf into 1-2 inch chunks and place them in the baking dish.
• Pour the egg mixture over the top of the bread. Use a spatula to fold the bread over, gently, to make sure the ingredients are evenly distributed. Cover and chill until ready to bake.
• Let the strata recipe rest for at least one hour, so the bread soaks up all the eggs. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (This is a fabulous make-ahead overnight recipe, so you can also preheat the oven in the morning.)
• Bake, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes, until the top is golden-brown and puffy in the center. Insert a sharp knife into the center to check that the eggs are set. If not, bake another 5-10 minutes. Then cool for 5 minutes before cutting. Serve warm!

SPINACH AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Squeeze handfuls of spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, then finely chop.
• Cook onion in butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until soft, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Stir in spinach, then remove from heat.
• Spread one third of bread cubes in a buttered 3-quart gratin dish or other shallow ceramic baking dish and top evenly with one third of spinach mixture.
• Sprinkle with one third of each cheese.
• Repeat layering twice (ending with cheeses).
• Whisk together milk, eggs, mustard, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and pour evenly over strata.
• Chill strata, covered with plastic wrap, at least 8 hours (for bread to absorb custard).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Let strata stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Bake strata, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
• note: Strata can be chilled up to 1 day.
• Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.

MEDITERRANEAN CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 degC.
• Lightly butter 24cm pie plate.
• Place the semi dried tomatoes on a paper towel and pat to dry the oil off them.
• Cut them in half.
• Whisk milk and eggs and garlic together, add all the other ingredients except the bread and mix well.
• Add the bread and stir until moistened.
• Transfer the mixture to the prepared pie dish.
• Let it stand until the bread absorbs most of the custard, pressing several times to submerge the bred cubes, about 5 mins this takes.
• Bake uncovered until light brown and knife inserted into the centre comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• Cut the strata into wedges.
• Serve with a salad of mesclun mix.

WINE AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Arrange bread pieces in the prepared baking dish; drizzle with melted butter. Top with Swiss cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and ham.
• Whisk milk, eggs, green onions, sherry, mustard, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl until foamy; pour over bread mixture. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Remove dish from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Bake strata in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Remove aluminum foil and top with sour cream and Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in the strata comes out clean, about 10 more minutes.

MOM'S BREAKFAST STRATA

Steps:

• Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer half of the torn bread in the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle the mushrooms and green bell pepper evenly over the bread layer. Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Top with remaining bread pieces, then layer with the onion and ham. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Whisk together eggs and milk; pour over the entire pan. Cover with aluminum foil, and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake covered for 35 minutes, then remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until top is evenly brown.

ASPARAGUS & CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
• In a large bowl, stir together bread cubes, asparagus, 1 cup shredded cheese and the cilantro or parsley, if using.
• In a small bowl, beat together eggs, milk and salt.
• Add to bread cube mixture and stir to combine.
• Transfer to greased baking dish; top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
• Wrap tightly and refrigerate until ready to bake--several hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Uncover baking dish and place on rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake until golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Cut strata into 6 rectangles and serve with sour cream.

OVERNIGHT EGG & CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/gas 4. Butter a small 4-cup/960-ml ovenproof baking dish.
• Remove the crusts from the bread and cut into slices; you should have about 3 cups. Lay the slices across the baking dish, slightly overlapping and allowing some edges to hang over the sides.
• Whisk together the eggs and milk in a large bowl. Stir in half of the cheese and season with salt and pepper. Pour three-fourths of the egg mixture over the bread cubes.
• Peel the bottom half of the asparagus and break off the stem ends where it snaps naturally. Discard any woody stems.
• Layer the mortadella over the bread and top with asparagus spears. Pour the remaining egg mixture over the top and finish with the remaining cheese. At this point, you can bake the strata immediately, or cover with plastic wrap/cling film and refrigerate overnight for a surprise breakfast in bed.
• Bake the strata until just set, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool slightly, sprinkle the top with chopped chives, and serve in the baking dish.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE CHEESE STRATA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F; grease a 13-by-9-inch pan.
• Trim crusts from bread and cube.
• Crumble sausage into a large skillet; sauté with onion, mushrooms and pepper. Place half the bread cubes in prepared pan, top with half the sausage mixture and half the cheese; repeat layers.
• In a medium bowl whisk eggs, milk, Italian seasoning, garlic and salt; pour over the filled casserole. Let stand 15 minutes so bread can soak up egg mixture.
• Bake for 60 to 70 minutes or until set. Let stand 10 minutes, cut into squares and serve drizzled with warm spaghetti sauce.

SPINACH, ROASTED PEPPER AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Heat butter and olive oil in a small saute pan. Add sweet onion, a generous dash of salt, and several grinds of fresh black pepper. Cook slowly over low heat until onions are nicely caramelized.
• Meanwhile, quarter, stem and seed the bell pepper, being sure to cut away any white pith. Place the pepper quarters skin side up under the broiler for about 5 minutes, or until the skin is beginning to char. Remove peppers to a closed container or a bowl with a plate across it. Once cool enough to handle, slough off the skin and dice the pepper.
• Squeeze as much moisture out of the thawed spinach as possible. In a wide bowl, combine spinach, cilantro, caramelized onion, diced roasted pepper and any collected pepper juices until evenly mixed. Gently stir in feta.
• In a separate bowl or small pitcher, whisk together eggs and milk. If desired, add a tablespoon of grainy mustard or a teaspoon of prepared horseradish, along with additional ground black pepper, into the custard.
• Spray a large deep lidded casserole with cooking spray. Spray the edges of the lid as well. Spread half of the bread cubes across the bottom. Arrange spinach mixture over bread to cover, all the way out to the edges. Top spinach with shredded cheese and then remaining bread cubes.
• Slowly pour the custard mixture evenly over the strata, moving in concentric circles. Cover strata and refrigerate at least one hour and up to one day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake strata, covered, 30 minutes. Remove lid and continue to bake 20-25 minutes, or until golden. Remove from oven and allow to stand 5 - 10 minutes.