October 3, 2011

Cheesy Ham Strata

Oven-baked Meat Dishes

20 mins.

50 minutes

“Pop this easy strata in the refrigerator at bedtime, then bake it the next morning for a hearty breakfast without a lot of fuss.”

1
Lightly spray a 21/2-quart rectangular baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2
Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
3
Place 21/2 cups bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Layer the ham, vegetable mixture and Swiss cheese evenly over the bread. Top with the remaining bread cubes.
4
Combine the eggs, cream cheese and mustard in a medium bowl. Whisk until well blended. Stir in the milk. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread. Slightly press the bread down with the back of a spoon to moisten. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for4–8 hours.
5
Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake the strata until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean, 50–55 minutes. Let stand for 5–10 minutes before serving.

For a delicious brunch, serve this strata with a fresh fruit compote and bran muffins studded with raisins.

• If you’d like a spicier breakfast dish, substitute 8 oz. cooked chopped chorizo sausage for the ham.

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