How do you save time in the morning, but also feed a lot of people?? A strata!

What's a strata? It means "layers of material," or in other words... layers of flavor. A strata is layers of bread, eggs, cheese, and any other flavors you like. It's a really hearty meal that will feed a good amount of people. The best part is you can make it the night before and bake it in the morning. It's also a good way to get veggies in to your morning! Add meat for more protein or simply keep it vegetarian friendly. This is a versatile recipe that will please everyone in your family.

There are a few important things to know when making this recipe. It's important to use good quality, sturdy, hearty bread. If you use thin, pre-sliced, processed bread it won't hold up to all of the other ingredients in the recipe. The eggs and milk should be close to room temperature to ensure everything incorporates properly, so allow the ingredients to sit out for about an hour. Lastly, make sure to keep an eye on the strata when it's baking. If it's getting too brown on top you can simply cover it with aluminum foil and continue to bake until it's cooked through. You want to lean more towards under-baking instead of over-baking because it will continue to cook when you take it out of the oven. Add in any veggies, herbs, or meat you like!

Spinach, Prosciutto, and Cheese Breakfast Strata

Author:

Maria Provenzano

A strata is basically a breakfast bake. Eggs, milk, bread, and cheese come together for a wonderful savory casserole that can be filled with a lot of wonderful ingredients. Be sure to make this with sturdy good quality bread!

Ingredients

10 eggs
3 cups milk
2 small shallots (or 1 large); minced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme (or 1 teaspoon fresh)
1 garlic clove, minced
5 cups thick and sturdy whole wheat bread
4 oz prosciutto
about 4-5 cups fresh spinach
a heaping 1/2 cup parmesan; freshly grated
4 oz goat cheese

Instructions

*Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
*Place the prosciutto onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil
*Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the prosciutto is crispy
*Allow to cool
*Crack the eggs into a large bowl and whisk to combine
*Pour the milk into the eggs; it helps if the milk and eggs are around room temperature
*Add in a sprinkle of salt and whisk together
*In a medium pan heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat
*Place the minced shallots into the pan; sprinkle with a little salt, and cook for a few minutes until softened
*Stir in the minced garlic and thyme; cook for about 30 seconds making sure the garlic doesn't brown
*Allow this mixture to cool and then whisk it into the milk and egg mixture
*Place the spinach in a large pan over medium heat, sprinkle with a little salt and a little olive oil
*Stir (I like using tongs) until the spinach has cooked down completely
*Allow to cool and place in a cheese cloth (or paper towel) and squeeze out the excess liquid
*Place the spinach on a cutting board and chop into small pieces
*Spray a 13x9x2 inch baking dish with cooking spray (or rub with butter) so that the bottom and sides are covered
*Cut the bread into about 1/2 inch to 1 inch cubes and place into the prepared pan
*Sprinkle the spinach evenly over the bread
*Crumble the cooled crispy prosciutto evenly over the bread and spinach
*Sprinkle the parmesan cheese evenly over the bread mixture
*Whisk together the milk, egg, and shallot mixture and pour it evenly over the bread
*Use a rubber spatula (or hands) to push down to make sure that the all of the bread is coated
*Cover and refrigerate overnight
*When you are ready to bake it preheat the oven to 375 degrees
*While the oven is heating up take the unbaked strata out of the fridge and sprinkle the top with the goat cheese
*Once the oven is heated placed the strata in the oven uncovered and bake for about 35-55 minutes or until the middle is set up (not watery) and the top is beginning to brown
*If the top is getting too brown and the middle hasn't set up yet you can cover it with aluminum foil and continue to bake
*Once it's out of the oven wait about 5 minutes or so and then serve!
*If you aren't making this ahead of time you can simply allow the mixture to sit for about a half hour and then bake it... it may not take as long to bake