Christmas Breakfast Casserole
1 pound lean cooked Italian sausage
1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed
4-5 cups moist bread cubes
1 can (6 oz.) sliced mushrooms, drained
1 1/2 cups reduced fat shredded Swiss cheese
3 cups 2% milk
6 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9×13 baking pan, set aside.
Scramble fry sausage (or cut into bite size pieces and fry); drain well. Blot excess fat from meat by pressing paper towel against cooked meat. For variety, substitute other meats of choice.
Thaw spinach, drain well (squeeze out excess liquid).
Place bread cubes in prepared 9×13 baking pan. Add cooked meat, drained mushrooms, spinach, and shredded Swiss cheese.
Beat together milk, eggs, onion, garlic salt, and dry mustard. Pour milk mixture over bread, meat and cheese. Gently press bread down to absorb milk. Bake immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours (best if refrigerated overnight). Bake 45-50 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Notes:
Breakfast casserole, a variation on bread pudding, makes a nice brunch or supper dish. It is best made with heavy or stale bread, but use what you have. In Colonial days bread pudding was a way to use old bread (not moldy, just stale). Recipe serves 8
Nutrition analysis has been calculated using white bread, lean pork, and Swiss cheese.
Mix and match cheese, vegetables, meats, and breads for tasty variety. Below are a few suggestions to start creative thinking. Measurements are approximate.
4-5 Cups Bread | 2 Cups Meat | 1 1/2 Cups Vegetables |
1 1/2 Cups Cheese |
Rye Bread |
Grilled Chicken |
Green Chilles |
Cheddar Cheese |
French Bread |
Corned Beef |
Bell Peppers |
Swiss Cheese |
7-Grain Bread |
Ham | Mushroms | Mozzarella Cheese |
Sourdough Bread |
Sausage Links, Scramble |
Tomatoes | Pepper Jack Cheese |
Whole Wheat Bread |
Roast Beef |
Pimentos | Smoked Cheese |
Speciality Bread |
Shredded Roast Pork` |
Spinach | Speciality Cheese |
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