CHEDDAR, VEGETABLE & SAUSAGE STRATA

By brian-2

Sets up overnight

Ingredients

• 9 1 inch slices French bread(each ~3x5 inches)
• 5 large eggs
• 1 t. Dijon mustard
• 1 t. dried basil
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1.5 cups half & half
• 2 cups (packed) sharp cheddar (~ 8 oz.)
• 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into strips
• 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 oz. smoked sausage (kielbasa) cut in 1/2 inch cubes
• 2 T. minced onion
• chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

Step 1

Butter 13x9 glass dish. Fit 8 bread slices into dish. Cut remaining bread into 1 inch cubes and fit cubes into empty spaces. Whisk eggs, mustard, basil & salt in medium bowl to blend. Whisk in cream. Ladle custard over bread. Cover, chill at least 2 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350. Sprinkle mixture in dish with pepper. Top with half the cheese, then bell pepper, tomatoes, sausage, onion and remaining cheese. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 min. Remove foil and bake until set and springy to touch ~ 20 min. longer. Cool 5 min. Sprinkle with parsley.